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On the contrary, the main force in the nucleus keeps particles together. This is called the strong nuclear force, and it keeps similarly charged protons together, overcoming the electrostatic repulsion that would push them apart. If there was a strong force pushing particles apart, elements could not exist except hydrogen! You may possibly be thinking of radioactive decay, for example beta particles being ejected. This is due to a proton losing mass and becoming a neutron, the loss of mass transforming to energy and the balance of charge giving a negative particle.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe force pushing particles apart in an unstable nucleus is the same one pushing particles apart in astable nucleus. It's the electromagnetic force. Nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons (11H excepted), and protons are all positively charged. The fundamental laws of electrostatics include the ideas that opposite charges attract, and like charges repel. In any nucleus, the protons are trying to push that nucleus apart, and the residual strong force (nuclear binging energy or nuclear glue) is holding the nucleus together. In an unstable nucleus, the physics of the nuclear structure will determine whether that nucleus is stable or not. In the unstable nuclei, the radioactive one, the strong force cannot hold the nucleus together indefinitely. These radionuclides will eventually decay according to their structure. Links can be found below for more information.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agothe weak force
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What terms best describes the nucleus of a radioactive element?
unstable
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 happens when strong forces are not sufficient enough to hold an unstable nuclei together?
Such an element is radioactive and to stabilised itself its nucleus emits the alpha and beta particles along with gamma rays till it is converted into a stable nucleus.
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.
What terms best describes the nucleus of a radioactive element?
unstable
When will an unstable nuclide stop emitting radiation?
An unstable nuclide will stop emitting radiation when the forces in the nucleus are balanced, until they become stable.
What best describes a radioisotope?
its nucleus is unstable
What is a characteristic of a radioactive nucleus?
A radioactive atom is an atom of an element with an unstable nucleus.
Which best describes the forces in the nucleus of a stable atom?
The strong nuclear force balances out the electrostatic force.
What is the primary reason an atoms nucleus is unstable?
Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.
What happens to a nucleus of an unstable atom?
the unstable nucleus will decay into smaller, stable particles.
The nucleus of a radium 226 atom is unstable which causes the nucleus to?
Decay
How is a stable nucleus different to an unstable nucleus?
A stable nucleus is one which will not decay, whereas an unstable nucleus will decay at some point, which cannot be predicted as decay is a random process, by alpha or beta decay.
What happens when strong forces are not sufficient enough to hold an unstable nuclei together?
Such an element is radioactive and to stabilised itself its nucleus emits the alpha and beta particles along with gamma rays till it is converted into a stable nucleus.
When an unstable magnesium nucleus undergoes gamma decay the nucleus formed is that of what?
Magnesium
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.
