Table of Contents
What is an unstable atom?
An unstable atom has excess internal energy, with the result that the nucleus can undergo a spontaneous change towards a more stable form. This is called ‘radioactive decay’. Each element exists in the form of atoms with several different sized nuclei, called isotopes.
What is an unstable or reactive atom?
An atom can be considered unstable in one of two ways. If it picks up or loses an electron, it becomes electrically charged and highly reactive. Such electrically charged atoms are known as ions. Instability can also occur in the nucleus when the number of protons and neutrons is unbalanced.
What is an unstable molecule?
Unstable Molecules are configuration of unknown atomic nuclei and electrons discovered or synthesized by Reed Richards, which is responsive to certain energized matter around it. They exist on the Angstrom edge between matter and energy and can interchange between either.
What is the most unstable atom?
In April 2019 it was announced that the half-life of xenon-124 had been measured to 1.8 × 1022 years. This is the longest half-life directly measured for any unstable isotope; only the half-life of tellurium-128 is longer….Tables.
| Element | xenon |
|---|---|
| unstable in italics odd neutron number in pink | 132 Xe |
| 129 Xe | |
| 131 Xe | |
| 134 Xe |
How do you know if an atom is unstable?
An atom is stable if the forces among the particles that makeup the nucleus are balanced. An atom is unstable (radioactive) if these forces are unbalanced; if the nucleus has an excess of internal energy. Instability of an atom’s nucleus may result from an excess of either neutrons or protons.
Why is an atom unstable?
Why some elements are radioactive (unstable). When the atoms of an element have extra neutrons or protons it creates extra energy in the nucleus and causes the atom to become unbalanced or unstable. Whether radioactive elements can become stable and if so, how. The unstable nucleus of radioactive atoms emit radiation.
Why do atoms become unstable?
When the atoms of an element have extra neutrons or protons it creates extra energy in the nucleus and causes the atom to become unbalanced or unstable. Whether radioactive elements can become stable and if so, how.
Are all atoms unstable?
Atoms found in nature are either stable or unstable. An atom is stable if the forces among the particles that makeup the nucleus are balanced. Instability of an atom’s nucleus may result from an excess of either neutrons or protons.
What determines if an atom is stable or unstable?
An atom is stable because of a balanced nucleus that does not contain surplus energy. If the forces between the protons and the neutrons in the nucleus are unbalanced, then the atom is unstable. Stable atoms retain their form for ever, while unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay.
Which would you most expect to be an unstable atom?
Francium is one of the most unstable of the naturally occurring elements: its longest-lived isotope, francium-223, has a half-life of only 22 minutes.
Which atoms tend to be unstable?
A Curium atom (Cm) with 96 protons and 85 neutrons would be the most unstable atom. This is because there is an imbalance of protons and neutrons.
What makes some atoms unstable?
An atom can be considered unstable in one of two ways. If it picks up or loses an electron , it becomes electrically charged and highly reactive. Such electrically charged atoms are known as ions. Instability can also occur in the nucleus when the number of protons and neutrons is unbalanced.