2.2 Stable and unstable nuclei

• Unstable nuclei do not undergo radioactive decay.

  False
• Neutrons are neutral particles that provide stability to the nucleus by counteracting the repelling forces between protons.
• The strong nuclear force is weaker than the electrostatic force.

  False
• Unstable nuclei have an imbalanced neutron-to-proton ratio, leading to a lower binding energy per nucleon.
• An imbalanced neutron-to-proton ratio leads to a lower binding energy per nucleon
• Unstable nuclei are less prone to radioactive decay than stable nuclei.

  False
• Unstable nuclei have a higher binding energy per nucleon than stable nuclei.

  False
• What is the binding energy per nucleon like in stable nuclei?

  High
• What is a key characteristic of stable nuclei?

  Balanced proton-neutron ratio
• Match the property with the type of nucleus:

  Balanced proton-neutron ratio ↔️ Stable nuclei

  Radioactive decay ↔️ Unstable nuclei
• Neutrons contribute to nuclear stability by counteracting proton repulsion
• The strong nuclear force operates over extremely short distances
• Match the property with the force:

  Short range ↔️ Strong nuclear force

  Longer range ↔️ Electrostatic force
• An imbalanced neutron-to-proton ratio makes the nucleus prone to radioactive decay
• The neutron-to-proton ratio is an important factor in determining the stability of a nucleus.
• The band of stability represents the range of neutron-to-proton ratios that result in nuclei with high binding energy per nucleon.
• The band of stability is perfectly straight on a graph of neutron number versus proton number.

  False
• Stable nuclei have a balanced proton-neutron ratio.
• Nuclear composition refers to the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus.

  True
• Stable nuclei have a balanced ratio of protons and neutrons, and their binding energy per nucleon is high.
• The neutron-to-proton ratio is balanced in unstable nuclei.

  False
• Protons have a neutral charge.

  False
• The strong nuclear force operates over short distances measured in femtometers.
• What does a higher binding energy per nucleon result in for a nucleus?

  Increased stability
• What is the neutron-to-proton ratio important for determining in a nucleus?

  Stability
• An imbalanced neutron-to-proton ratio in unstable nuclei results in a lower binding energy per nucleon
• Match the type of nucleus with its neutron-to-proton ratio:

  Stable ↔️ Balanced

  Unstable ↔️ Imbalanced
• Unstable nuclei have a balanced ratio of protons and neutrons.

  False
• Unstable nuclei have a high binding energy per nucleon.

  False
• What are the constituents of a nucleus called?

  Protons and neutrons
• What role do protons play in nuclear composition?

  Determine the element
• What is the relationship between the neutron-to-proton ratio and nuclear stability?

  Balanced ratio ensures stability
• What type of neutron-to-proton ratio do stable nuclei have?

  Balanced
• Stable nuclei have a balanced neutron-to-proton ratio.


  True
• Match the nuclear property with its description:

  Band of Stability ↔️ Region on a graph where stable nuclei exist

  Stable Nucleus ↔️ High binding energy per nucleon

  Unstable Nucleus ↔️ Imbalanced proton-neutron ratio
• Arrange the three main types of radioactive decay in order of increasing change in atomic number:

  1️⃣ Gamma Decay

  2️⃣ Beta Decay

  3️⃣ Alpha Decay
• What determines the atomic number of an element?

  Number of protons
• What is the charge of a proton?

  Positive (+1)
• The role of protons is to determine the element's identity
• Match the property with the correct particle:

  Positive charge ↔️ Protons

  Neutral charge ↔️ Neutrons