Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.
No, unstable atoms cannot have a nucleus that always remains the same. By definition, unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay, which means their nuclei change over time as they emit particles or radiation to reach a more stable state. This process alters the composition of the nucleus, leading to the transformation of one element into another or the release of energy. Therefore, the nucleus of an unstable atom is inherently dynamic and subject to change.
An atom "becomes" radioactive when it is created. It's that simple. Radioactivity is a phenomenon associated with atoms that have unstable nuclei. The key is that the protons and neutrons that form the nucleus "don't like" the "arrangement" there and the atomic nucleus is unstable. The "ratio" of protons to neutrons in a nucleus is intrinsically unstable. The instability is something that the nucleus, when it is formed (and by whatever means), has as an innate quality. It is unstable, and it isradioactive, and at some point in time, it will undergo decay, or even spontaneous fission, in the case of certain atoms, like uranium and plutonium.
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.
The nucleus and the electron shell
I, too, also had this questions. After SEVERAL minutes of surfing the world wide web, I found that it is the number of neutrons that determine whether a nucleus is stable or unstable. I hope this helps you! ;)
No, unstable atoms cannot have a nucleus that always remains the same. By definition, unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay, which means their nuclei change over time as they emit particles or radiation to reach a more stable state. This process alters the composition of the nucleus, leading to the transformation of one element into another or the release of energy. Therefore, the nucleus of an unstable atom is inherently dynamic and subject to change.
In most atoms the protons and neutrons found in the nucleus are held together strongly. The nuclei of these atoms are said to be stable. However, the neutrons and protons in some atoms are not held together as strongly. These nuclei are unstable and will eventually disintegrate, forming other elements. Isotopes that are unstable are said to be radioactive and are called radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes.
An atom "becomes" radioactive when it is created. It's that simple. Radioactivity is a phenomenon associated with atoms that have unstable nuclei. The key is that the protons and neutrons that form the nucleus "don't like" the "arrangement" there and the atomic nucleus is unstable. The "ratio" of protons to neutrons in a nucleus is intrinsically unstable. The instability is something that the nucleus, when it is formed (and by whatever means), has as an innate quality. It is unstable, and it isradioactive, and at some point in time, it will undergo decay, or even spontaneous fission, in the case of certain atoms, like uranium and plutonium.
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.
The nucleus and the electron shell
I, too, also had this questions. After SEVERAL minutes of surfing the world wide web, I found that it is the number of neutrons that determine whether a nucleus is stable or unstable. I hope this helps you! ;)
all nuclei, both stable and unstable, have a radius. although the exact size can be hard to define, due to quantum properties.
The stability of an atom depends on a balance between the numbers of protons and neutrons in its nucleus and also on the total size of its nucleus; atoms with sufficiently large nuclei are inherently unstable. Please see the link.
If you are referring to a cell's nucleus than the simple answer is that's not radioactive. Radioactivity occurs when elemental atoms become unstable due to the loss or gain of additional neutrons; these unstable atoms are referred to as radioactive isotopes. If a cell's nucleus were radioactive it would not last very long, its structure and function would quickly degrade and collapse.
Radio Activity- The process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles and energy Artificial Transmutations- The conversion of atoms of one element to atoms of another.
The strong nuclear force doesn't balance the electrostatic force.
The mass of unstable atoms can vary widely depending on the specific isotope and the decay process involved. Unstable atoms typically have a higher mass compared to stable atoms due to the presence of excess energy or additional subatomic particles. When unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay, they can transform into more stable elements by emitting particles and energy.