Chapter 19, Problem 19.71QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Reason for tritium being radioactive even though it does not have proton-proton repulsion has to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Isotopes are atoms having same atomic number but different mass number.

Radioactive isotopes are atoms that contain an unstable nucleus and dissipate excess energy by spontaneously emitting radiation in the form of alpha, beta, gamma rays.

Isotopes of hydrogen-protium $\left({}_1^{1}H\right)$, deuterium $\left({}_1^{2}H\right)$ and tritium $\left({}_1^{3}H\right)$

Tritium $\left({}_1^{3}H\right)$ is the only radioactive isotopes of hydrogen.

Nuclear stability can be explained based on neutron proton ratio (n/p) in the nucleus.

For a stable atoms having low atomic number, n/p ratio is close to 1. When atomic number increases n/p becomes greater than 1.