Chapter 4, Problem 81A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The gain of stability by a radioactive atom needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

The radioactive atoms emitted radiation to get their nucleus stable, when an atom contains unbalanced ratio of neutrons or protons, they are unstable in nature. By the radioactive decay they get the stability.

Answer to Problem 81A

When the number of protons or neutrons are in the nucleus is greater than an acceptable value, the binding energy can’t bind nucleus together and the nucleus emit radiation and by this decay, the nucleus loss some protons or neutrons and gets stability.

Explanation of Solution

There are three different types of radioactive decay, alpha, beta and gamma rays. When a nucleus ejected two protons and two neutrons (alpha particle) thus, the atomic number decreases by two and mass decreases by four.

When an electron is ejected this is known as beta decay. The atomic number increases by one and nucleus gets the stability.

These types of decay maintain the ratio of number of protons and number of neutrons in the radioactive atom.

Conclusion

So from the different types of radioactive decay, an atom gets stability. If nucleus has stable ratio of the number of protons and the number of neutrons then it is stable in nature.