answersLogoWhite

0

What makes a nucleus unstable?

Updated: 8/11/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Verified answer

The strong nuclear force doesn't balance the electrostatic force.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
User Avatar

Dilim

Lvl 1
2y ago
Correct!
User Avatar

Sierra Murtha

Lvl 1
2y ago
correct!
User Avatar

Sierra Murtha

Lvl 1
2y ago
CORRECT FOR APEX!
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

A nucleus with too few neutrons is unstable because there are not enough to keep protons in the nucleus. Due to the small number of neutrons, protons can repel one another from the nucleus making it unstable.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Too many neutrons will make a nucleus unstable because of the attractive nuclear force between nucleons (protons and neutrons). This force is different than the repulsive electrostatic force. The nuclear force keeps protons and neutrons at an average separation when in balance with the electrostatic force. When a nucleus becomes heavy with neutrons, this balance is thrown off, and the nucleus becomes unstable.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

The nuclei of atoms is where all the positive charges are concentrate. Like repels like and this makes the nucleus inherently unstable. It is the presence of the neutrons that help to stabilise the nucleus.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

This depends on the ratio neutrons/protons in the atomic nucleus; when this ratio increase the atom become more and more unstable. Also isotopes with high atomic weight are frequently unstable.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

a nuclei can become unstable due to the number of protons and neutrons that they contain.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

because of the number of protons and neutrons they may contain

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

It would become an unstable isotope and give off radiation.

This answer is:
User Avatar
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What makes americium radioactive?

Because the nucleus of americium is heavy and unstable.


What quality in uranium makes it useful in nuclear power?

An unstable nucleus which decays emitting a neutron.


What makes an element unstable or radioactive?

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.


What makes a nucleus unstabe?

A nucleus with too few nuetrons is unstable because there are not enough to keep the protons. There must be a certain amount of nuetrons for every element.


What is the primary reason an atoms nucleus is unstable?

Increasing the ratio neutrons/protons in the nucleus the atom become unstable.


What makes trans-uranium elements radioactive?

Transuranium elements are radioactive and unstable; the stability of a nucleus is a problem of nucleon physics.


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.


When an unstable magnesium nucleus undergoes gamma decay the nucleus formed is that of what?

Magnesium


What is the term for an atom that has an unstable nucleus?

radioisotope


What is radioactive in physics?

the unstable nucleus of an atom