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Homework Statement
Explain why deuterium cannot undergo ##\beta## decay or produce a stable nucleus while tritium can.
Homework Equations
Deuterium : ##{^2_1}{H}##
Tritium : ##{^3_1}{H}##
The Attempt at a Solution
Observe the negative ##\beta## decay of deuterium :
$${^2_1}{H} \stackrel{\beta^-}{\rightarrow} {^2_2}{He} + {^0_{-1}}{e}$$
The positive ##\beta## decay of deuterium :
$${^2_1}{H} \stackrel{\beta^+}{\rightarrow} {^2_0}{He} + {^0_{1}}{e}$$
The negative ##\beta## decay of tritium :
$${^3_1}{H} \stackrel{\beta^-}{\rightarrow} {^3_2}{Li} + {^0_{-1}}{e}$$
The positive ##\beta## decay of tritium :
$${^3_1}{H} \stackrel{\beta^+}{\rightarrow} {^3_0}{Li} + {^0_{1}}{e}$$
When deuterium undergoes ##\beta## decay, it either produces an unstable nucleus or a nucleus with no protons. With no protons, there would be nothing holding the atom together so the whole thing would fall apart.
Tritium seems to be able to undergo a stable ##\beta^-## decay and produce a stable nucleus. The positive decay of tritium destroys the nucleus entirely.
Is this reasoning okay? The question is a bit vague.
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