# Neutron stars - Where are the protons?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neutron-stars-where-are-the-protons/135093>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 3, 2002, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neutron-stars-where-are-the-protons/135093 "2002-11-03T09:15:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neutron-stars-where-are-the-protons/135093/1 "2002-11-03T09:15:13Z")

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When a star goes supernova, a neutron star may be produced. A neutron star is pretty much composed of a soup of neutrons and quarks, with a metal crust. the original star is mostly composed of protons, in the form of Hydrogen. So where do the protons (and electrons) go?  
My first guess would be that the protons and electrons somehow end up in the metal crust. Or perhaps the star is ‘melted’ completely down to quarks, and then rearranged into neutrons as it cools.  
Any thoughts?  
-Oli

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**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neutron-stars-where-are-the-protons/135093/2 "2002-11-03T09:28:30Z")

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Ack. Could a mod delete this please?  
I could have sworn I only clicked on Submit once.  
-Oli

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**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neutron-stars-where-are-the-protons/135093/3 "2002-11-03T16:29:34Z")

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I think that the protons and electrons get scrunched together and the result is neutrons.