2 ms·
Memory is a bit rusty on this (30 years since I did nuclear physics) but elements have stable and unstable isotopes (with the same number of protons and a diffe
by hermitcrab 6y ago
Memory is a bit rusty on this (30 years since I did nuclear physics) but elements have stable and unstable isotopes (with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons). E.g. Carbon 12 and 13 are stable and Carbon 14 is unstable (half-life 5730 years). An atom will keep decaying until it reaches a stable form. Then it will stay like that until some nuclear fusion or fission event occurs.
- hermitcrab 6y agoConsequently most chains of decay will reach a stable form long before they get to Hydrogen.
- saagarjha 6y agoFor heavy elements this usually means a terminal at the 206, 207, or 208 isotopes of lead or thallium-205; radioactive isotopes smaller than that usually quickly hit a "nearby" stable isotope.