The process which describes the splitting of a large unstable atom into two intermediate size atoms and extra neutrons is called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process.
The strong nuclear force doesn't balance the electrostatic force.
What makes a fission reaction possible is that certain atoms, such as uranium and plutonium, are unstable and capable of splitting into smaller atoms when struck by a neutron. This process releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat and additional neutrons, which can go on to trigger more fission reactions in a chain reaction.
Stable nuclei have a balanced number of protons and neutrons, while unstable nuclei have an imbalance, leading to radioactive decay.
Stable nuclei have a balanced number of protons and neutrons, while unstable nuclei have an imbalance. Unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay to become more stable.
Neutrons. Atoms located above the band of stability have an excess of neutrons compared to protons, which makes them relatively unstable. This imbalance in the ratio of neutrons to protons can lead to radioactive decay in an attempt to reach a more stable configuration.
Nuclear fission
Fission to be more specific its nuclear fission...
Neutrons do not split nuclei directly. However, when a neutron collides with a nucleus, it can be absorbed, causing the nucleus to become unstable. This instability can result in the nucleus splitting into two smaller nuclei, a process known as nuclear fission. During fission, energy, more neutrons, and radiation are released.
An isotope with too many neutrons can be unstable for example Hydrogen-3 is unstable while hydrogen-1 and 2 are stable. But so can one with too few neutrons, for example lead-204 is unstable while lead-206, 207, and 208 are stable.
Hydrogen-1 (protium):1 proton, 0 neutrons (stable) Helium-2 (diproton): 2 protons, 0 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Helium-3: 2 protons, 1 neutron (stable) Lithium-4: 3 protons, 1 neutron (unstable - extremely short half-life) Lithium-5: 3 protons, 2 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Beryllium-5: 4 protons, 1 neutron (mostly theoretical, unstable, extremely short half-life if formed) Beryllium-5: 4 protons, 2 neutron (unstable - extremely short half-life) Beryllium-5: 4 protons, 3 neutron (unstable - extremely short half-life) Boron-6: 5 protons, 1 neutron (mostly theoretical, extremely short half-life if formed) Boron-7: 5 protons, 2 neutron (unstable - extremely short half-life) Boron-8: 5 protons, 3 neutron (unstable - short half-life) Boron-9: 5 protons, 4 neutron (unstable - extremely short half-life) Carbon-8: 6 protons, 2 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Carbon-9: 6 protons, 3 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Carbon-10: 6 protons, 4 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Carbon-11: 6 protons, 5 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Nitrogen-10: 7 protons, 3 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Nitrogen-11: 7 protons, 4 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Nitrogen-12: 7 protons, 5 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Nitrogen-13: 7 protons, 6 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Oxygen-12: 8 protons, 4 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Oxygen-13: 8 protons, 5 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Oxygen-14: 8 protons, 6 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Oxygen-15: 8 protons, 7 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Fluorine-14: 9 protons, 5 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Fluorine-15: 9 protons, 6 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Fluorine-16: 9 protons, 7 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Fluorine-17: 9 protons, 8 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Neon-16: 10 protons, 6 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Neon-17: 10 protons, 7 neutrons (unstable - extremely short half-life) Neon-18: 10 protons, 8 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) Neon-19: 10 protons, 9 neutrons (unstable - short half-life) ... and the list goes on
The strong nuclear force doesn't balance the electrostatic force.
Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.
The nucleus would become unstable because you need a certain amount of neutrons, electrons, and protons for it to be stable.
strong force
an unstable structure formed during the process of reactiom and is later converted to products
yes
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! ;)