What is the least stable nucleus?
The least stable nucleus is Fe. An unstable atom does not have enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together permanently and is called a radioactive atom.
Why are neutron rich nuclei unstable?
According to the shell model protons and neutrons in nuclei occupy energy levels similar to the electron energy levels in a hydrogen atom. The nucleus can therefore lower its energy by converting neutrons to protons via beta decay, and this is why these neutron rich nuclei unstable.
Why nuclei that contain more than 82 protons are radioactive?
Explain why nuclei that contain more than 82 protons are radioactive. The nuclei that contain more than 82 protons are unstable. The proton to neutron ration will be more than one. As a result of this, the nucleus will be highly unstable, sothis nucleus undergoes radioactive decay in order to attain stability.
Why are elements with more than 83 protons radioactive?
Radioactive Elements They are unstable because they have too much energy, too many protons, or an unstable ratio of protons to neutrons. For example, all elements with more than 83 protons—such as uranium, radium, and polonium—have unstable nuclei. The nuclei of these elements must lose protons to become more stable.
Why are elements bigger than bismuth radioactive?
These “noble” nuclei happen at whimsically named “magic numbers” of protons and neutrons. Thus you’ll often find more radioactive nuclei just above a magic number: because they are less tightly bound than the magic nuclei, and thus have a larger mass difference.
What are the 3 types of radioactive decays?
A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay, all of which involve emitting one or more particles or photons.
Can a body become radioactive?
Exposure to radiation does not immediately make a person radioactive. The only type of radiation that is capable of directly causing other material to become radioactive is neutron radiation, which is generally only found inside nuclear reactors or in a nuclear detonation.