We have to determine the identity of the baryons formed from the following combinations of quarks: (a) ddu; (b) uus; (c) ssd. We have to check the answers with reference to the baryon octet.

Solution:             Click For PDF Version

Properties of the fundamental quarks are as given in the following table:

Quark	Symbol	Charge (e)	Spin	Baryon Number	Strangeness
Up	u				0
Down	d				0
Strange	s				-1

We note that all the three combinations ddu, uus, and ssd have baryon number 1 and a spin of . We consider the baryon with spin .

(a) ddu

From the table we note that the charge of ddu is 0 and its strangeness is 0. Therefore, it represents a neutron n.

(b) uus

From the table we note that the charge of uus is e and its strangeness is . Therefore, uus represents .

(c) ssd

From the table we note that the charge of ssd is and its strangeness is . Therefore, ssd represents .