Heavy & Light Nuclei: Differences Explained

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the differences between heavy and light nuclei, focusing on mass and stability. Heavy nuclei generally contain more protons and neutrons compared to light nuclei. While light stable nuclei maintain a balanced ratio of protons to neutrons, heavier stable nuclei exhibit a higher neutron-to-proton ratio. Overall, heavier nuclei tend to be less stable, with very heavy nuclei being entirely unstable.

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What's the difference between them?
 
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Mass.

Perhaps if you will ask a little bit more elaborate question it will be possible to give a little bit more elaborate answer.
 
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um which ones are more stable? How is one more massive than the other (Do heavy nuclei have more protons or nuetrons)?
 
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Lil_Aziz1 said:
um which ones are more stable?

No simple rule. In general heavier ones are less stable, but a lot depends on the number of protons and neutrons present. Very heavy ones are all unstable.

How is one more massive than the other (Do heavy nuclei have more protons or nuetrons)?

They have more of both. Light stable nuclei have about the same number of protons and neutrons, the heavier the stable nucleus, the higher the neutron/proton ratio.
 
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Thread 'Gold hydride - what is the significance?'

I came.across a headline and read some of the article, so I was curious. Scientists discover that gold is a 'reactive metal' by accidentally creating a new material in the lab https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-that-gold-is-reactive-metal-by-creating-gold-hydride-in-lab-experiment/ From SLAC - A SLAC team unexpectedly formed gold hydride in an experiment that could pave the way for studying materials under extreme conditions like those found inside certain planets and stars undergoing...
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