XPost: sci.physics   
   From: someone@microsoft.com   
      
   Hello,   
      
   An isolated neutron will on average, in its own rest frame, decay into an   
   electron and a proton in less than 15 minutes. The electron is an   
   indivisible particle, while the proton is not.   
      
   The nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen, is some kind of ensemble of   
   protons and neutron, bound by the strong nuclear force. Isolated protons and   
   neutrons are each identical particles. This may be true even if they are not   
   isolated.   
      
   According to the standard model, protons and neutron are each some kind of   
   ensemble of quarks, bound by the strong nuclear force.   
      
   Question: to what extent can we consider the nucleus an ensemble of quarks   
   without recourse to the proton/neutron description of the nucleus?   
      
   Thanks.   
      
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