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Questions and Answers
What is the most important factor affecting nuclear stability?
What is the most important factor affecting nuclear stability?
- Number of electrons
- Number of protons
- N/P ratio (correct)
- Number of neutrons
Why do neutrons contribute to the stability of a nucleus?
Why do neutrons contribute to the stability of a nucleus?
- Due to their positive charge
- Because they contribute to coulombic forces
- Because they are lighter than protons
- They help prevent proton-proton repulsions (correct)
What happens when a nucleus contains too few neutrons and protons?
What happens when a nucleus contains too few neutrons and protons?
- It becomes stable
- Its atomic mass decreases
- It undergoes radioactive decay (correct)
- It emits gamma radiation
In stable nuclei, what trend is observed when plotting Neutron against Proton?
In stable nuclei, what trend is observed when plotting Neutron against Proton?
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What do neutron-rich atoms typically have in common?
What do neutron-rich atoms typically have in common?
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What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
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What is the outcome if a nucleus is extremely unstable?
What is the outcome if a nucleus is extremely unstable?
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What do stable atoms follow on a plot of Neutron against Proton?
What do stable atoms follow on a plot of Neutron against Proton?
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What is the significance of the N/P ratio in a nucleus?
What is the significance of the N/P ratio in a nucleus?
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Why are more neutrons required as the number of protons in the nucleus increases?
Why are more neutrons required as the number of protons in the nucleus increases?
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