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da_willem
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A (free) neutron has a lifetime of some 10 minutes or so, how come it is stable in a nucleus?
Well neutrons are stable up to a point. While there are many isotopes (nuclides) which are stable, there are many more which are not! Not only that, each nuclide has a unique half-life, and there are some elements (for Z<83) like Tc (Z=42) or Pm (Z=61) for which there are no stable isotopes. Bi (Z=83) is the heaviest element with a stable isotope (Bi-209, which is the heaviest stable isotope). Neutron rich nuclides tend to decay by beta emission, and at some point, alpha emission is a preferred decay mode.da_willem said:A (free) neutron has a lifetime of some 10 minutes or so, how come it is stable in a nucleus?
Bi (Z=83) is the heaviest element with a stable isotope (Bi-209, which is the heaviest stable isotope).
A lifetime neutron in nucleus is a neutron that is bound within the nucleus of an atom, rather than being free. It has a longer lifespan than free neutrons, which typically only last for about 15 minutes before decaying into protons.
A neutron becomes bound in a nucleus through the strong nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces in physics. This force is responsible for holding the nucleus together and overcoming the repulsive forces between positively charged protons.
The lifetime of a neutron in a nucleus can vary depending on the specific isotope of the atom. Generally, it can range from a few minutes to billions of years. For example, the most common isotope of hydrogen, protium, has a lifetime neutron in nucleus that lasts for about 14 minutes.
Lifetime neutrons in nucleus play a crucial role in nuclear reactions and stability of atoms. Without them, the strong nuclear force would not be able to keep the protons together, and the nucleus would fall apart. They also have important applications in nuclear energy, medicine, and other fields of research.
Yes, it is possible for a neutron in a nucleus to change into a proton through a process called beta decay. This occurs when a neutron emits an electron and a neutrino, and the number of protons in the nucleus increases by one while the number of neutrons decreases by one. This process is essential in maintaining stability in the nucleus and is also used in nuclear reactors to produce energy.