Page 194 - Radiation Safety

Stability

 Nuclear stability - neutron-proton ratio (n/p) is crucial

 Stable nuclide - correct balance in the number of neutrons and protons in the
nucleus

 Ratio too low or too high:

▪ Nucleus unstable

▪ Rearrange itself into a more stable configuration through transformation or
spontaneous decays and the emission of radiation

▪ Nucleus radioactive

 Stable elements in the low atomic number range have an almost equal number

of neutrons, n and protons, Z

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