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The answer is: The strong nuclear force is not large enough to overcome the electric force for large nuclei.
Hope I answered your question.=)
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA nucleus becomes radioactive when the number of neutrons in its nucleus is
more than the number of protons or when the atomic number is greater than 82, unless it is a radio isotope.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agowhen it gets to heavy or large to remain stable ad it gives of radiation and particles to become stable once more.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoSlightly oversimplified: too many or too few neutrons for their excess strong force to balance the electrostatic repulsion of the protons in the nucleus.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoplutonium-241...
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoradioactive decay
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What is the primary reason an atoms nucleus is unstable?
Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.
The nucleus of a radium 226 atom is unstable which causes the nucleus to?
Decay
What is An unstable isotope is called what?
It isn't really an ELEMENT that is unstable, but an ISOTOPE. That means that in general, for the same element, some atoms will decay, and some will not - the difference being the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
When you split an atom why does it explode?
WHEN WE SPLIT AN ATOM IT EXPLODES because the become unstable.
If the nucleus of a radium-226 atom is unstable what causes the nucleus to spontaneously decay?
Instability is due to a certain ratio between neutrons and protons in the atomic nucleus.
What is the primary reason an atoms nucleus is unstable?
Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.
A free-moving neutron is absorbed by the nucleus of an atom. This can cause?
the atom to become unstable and rip apart
In nuclear fission reactions what causes the atom's nucleus to become unstable?
the absorption of a free-moving neutron by the atom's nucleus
What are the characteristics of a atom?
A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.
What is the term for an atom that has an unstable nucleus?
radioisotope
What is radioactive in physics?
the unstable nucleus of an atom
The nucleus of a radium 226 atom is unstable which causes the nucleus to?
Decay
What happens to a nucleus of an unstable atom?
the unstable nucleus will decay into smaller, stable particles.
What is a characteristic of a radioactive nucleus?
A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.
What is radioactive decay in your own words?
It is when an atom's nucleus contains too many neutrons and becomes too unstable. Thus, the nucleus "wants" to become more stable and thus splits into two lighter nuclei. To get rid of the extra neutrons that were making the atom unstable, when the atom splits apart, these neutrons are ejected outwards. The two split nuclei become two separate, more stable atoms.
What is An unstable isotope is called what?
It isn't really an ELEMENT that is unstable, but an ISOTOPE. That means that in general, for the same element, some atoms will decay, and some will not - the difference being the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
Where does radioactivity start in an atom?
radioactivity start from the nucleus of an atom which becomes unstable n emit radiation
