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NanakiXIII
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I've been reading about radioactivity, but I can't seem to find what actually makes an atom unstable. Can anyone tell me?
NanakiXIII said:I've been reading about radioactivity, but I can't seem to find what actually makes an atom unstable. Can anyone tell me?
NanakiXIII said:I've been reading about radioactivity, but I can't seem to find what actually makes an atom unstable. Can anyone tell me?
NanakiXIII said:Thanks for your replies, though I don't really understand the first. Thanks for your big reply, vlamir, but I really haven't a clue what you're talking about.
So an atom is unstable because it's big and thus harder to keep together? (I wasn't talking about colission)
But H-3 is unstable, right? But there are far bigger atoms than H-3 that are stable, aren't there?
NanakiXIII said:Yes, I understand that, but why do those amounts form the most stable state?
vlamir said:As to stability of hydrogen
vlamir said:Nan …, for me is impressed your intense interest to the given problem. You accent the question just the one its part, which has no an exhaustive explanation.
Attempts to explain stability of ones atoms and instability of others by means of collisions are too naive for our time. More or less satisfactory explanation the energy model gives, but it cannot explain the nature of intra-atomic energy. I hope, that in the given forum participate physicists and chemists, who search for own decision of a problem, therefore I expect more original ideas.
From my side I can offer the pair of "wild" ideas, for which I cannot find mathematical interpretation.
1) The solid shell of atom is capable to focus force properties of surrounding space in the central area of atom.
2) Probably, in the nature there is an identity vacuum = time.
As to stability of hydrogen and instability of tritium (and heavier H4), this distinction can be mathematically proved by multiple increases in internal energy of atom due to multiple increases in amplitude of resonant oscillations.
Yes we do know.NanakiXIII said:Thanks for all your replies, but so basically, they don't know?
Like I already said : this is because of the numbers of nucleons occupying a certain energylevel. The things I wrote in the electron-example are basic results of QM. I mean, these results are proven and that is it. Ofcourse You can keep on asking why are these results true ? However this is not how physics is done. Physics tries to describe nature, it does not tell nature how it has to work nor does it EXPLAIN why nature behaves in a certain manner...
regards
marlon
Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atoms emit particles or energy in order to become more stable. This process is also known as radioactive decay.
An atom is unstable if it has an imbalance of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. This imbalance causes the atom to have excess energy, which it tries to release through radioactive decay.
An atom can become radioactive through a process called nuclear transmutation, where it undergoes a change in its nucleus, resulting in an unstable state. This can occur naturally or through artificial means, such as nuclear reactions.
There are three main types of radioactive decay: alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle, and gamma decay involves the emission of high-energy electromagnetic radiation.
No, not all atoms can become radioactive. Only atoms with unstable nuclei can undergo radioactive decay. The stability of an atom's nucleus depends on the balance of protons and neutrons, as well as the nuclear forces holding them together.