-on

suffix Physics, Biochemistry, & Chemistry forming nouns:

1》 denoting subatomic particles or quanta: neutron.

2》 denoting molecular units: codon.

3》 denoting substances: interferon.

Origin

sense 1 orig. in electron, from ion, influenced (as in sense 2) by Gk on 'being'; sense 3 is on the pattern of words such as cotton or from Ger. -on.