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Inside the nucleus of an atom, there is a competition between two principle forces: strong nuclear forces which keep the nucleus together, and electrostatic forces between the protons which want to blow it apart. Different proton-neutron structures causes changes between these two forces which affects the stability of the atom.
The exact instant an atom decays is a quantum perturbation. Every time the atom vibrates, it has a chance of overcoming the activation energy barrier for decay.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoThi depends on the ratio neutrons/protons in the atomic nucleus.
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A free-moving neutron is absorbed by the nucleus of an atom. This can cause?
the atom to become unstable and rip apart
What do most atoms undergo combining in ways that cause their atoms to become more?
Most atoms tend to undergo chemical reactions combining in ways that cause their atoms to become more stable
What effect do electrons from the magnetosphere have on atoms?
They cause the atoms to become "excited."
For every one iron atom in iron sulphide there is?
Sulfur atoms are not in iron atoms. Sulfur atoms combine with iron atom by accepting excess electrons from the iron atoms. Iron atoms become iron ions with a positive charge. Sulfur atoms become sulfide ions with a negative charge. The opposite charges cause the oppositely charged ions to attract each other and form an ionic bond and, in the solid state, a crystal lattice structure.
What element has the largest atoms period 4?
Atomic radius decreases across a row (increasing positive charge in the nucleus causes electrons in the same energy level to "shrink" into the nucleus due to electrostatic attraction). This means that potassium has the largest atomic radius in period 4.
What can cause a nucleus to become unstable and decay?
Too many or too few neutrons.
A free-moving neutron is absorbed by the nucleus of an atom. This can cause?
the atom to become unstable and rip apart
What force keeps the nucleus together?
The inter nuclear forces bind the atoms and nucleus together . This force is the cause for the nucleus binded towards the atoms.
What does not cause air become unstable?
water
What aspects of the composition of a nucleus can cause it to be unstable?
The two aspects that cause the nucleus of any element atom to be unstable are:not have the specific neutron/proton ratio to be a stable nucleus, and orhaving number of protons that exceeds the stability limit (exceeding 83).Referring to question below for more information.
Which will NOT cause air to become unstable?
subsidence of an air column
Did the atoms have a nucleus that always remains the same?
no they dont cause they just dont.
What do most atoms undergo combining in ways that cause their atoms to become more?
Most atoms tend to undergo chemical reactions combining in ways that cause their atoms to become more stable
What effect do electrons from the magnetosphere have on atoms?
They cause the atoms to become "excited."
Why fission cannot take place with fast neutron?
In order to cause an atomic nucleus to become unstable so that it will undergo fission, you have to add a neutron. If a slow neutron collides with an atomic nucleus, it will be absorbed into the nucleus and become part of it. The nuclear attraction of the nucleus is strong enough to grab a slow neutron. But a fast neutron cannot be captured because it has too much kinetic energy. The attraction of the nucleus is not enough to stop the motion of a fast neutron. Even if a fast neutron makes a direct hit on an atomic nucleus, it is just going to bounce off.
Why are neutrons used as nuclear bullets to cause nuclear disintegration of an unstable nucleus?
Neutrons have no charge. As a result, they are not deflected by the positive charge of the nucleus or the negative charge of the electron cloud. They have the best chance of interacting with the nucleus and further destabilizing it, causing it to split.
Why no triggering is used for astable multivibrator?
No triggering is used on an astable multivibrator because it can cause it to become unstable.
