The order of binding energy per nucleon for nuclei generally follows the trend that larger nuclei have higher binding energy per nucleon. This means that as you move to heavier nuclei (with more protons and neutrons), their binding energy per nucleon tends to increase. This trend is due to the strong nuclear force that holds the nucleus together becoming more efficient as the nucleus grows in size.
A heavy nucleus like lead requires more neutrons than protons to overcome the repulsive electrostatic forces between the positively charged protons. These additional neutrons help to increase the strong nuclear force within the nucleus, stabilizing it against the electrostatic repulsion.
Electrons in the innermost energy levels, closest to the nucleus, require the most energy to be absorbed in order to be excited to higher energy levels. These electrons have lower energy levels due to their proximity to the nucleus, which causes them to experience a stronger attraction and need more energy to be removed.
The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. It is a short-range force that only acts over distances on the order of a few femtometers.
Gamma decay occurs when an excited nucleus releases energy in the form of a gamma ray photon in order to reach a more stable energy state. This type of decay often follows alpha or beta decay processes, as the nucleus transitions to lower energy levels. Gamma decay allows the nucleus to shed excess energy without changing its atomic number or mass.
The name of the spontaneous process is nuclear decay or radioactive decay. This process involves the release of particles (such as alpha or beta particles) and energy from the unstable nucleus of an atom in order to achieve a more stable configuration.
The energy contained in a single atom of lead is typically on the order of several electronvolts (eV). This energy is associated with the binding energy that holds the nucleus together and the energy levels of the electrons in the atom.
A heavy nucleus like lead requires more neutrons than protons to overcome the repulsive electrostatic forces between the positively charged protons. These additional neutrons help to increase the strong nuclear force within the nucleus, stabilizing it against the electrostatic repulsion.
No. Not under normal conditions. It is true that protons within the nucleus attract each other due to the residual binding energy left over from the binding energy that holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons, but that force does not extend beyond the nucleus before the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force, would override the residual binding energy. In order to bind protons from different nuclei together, more formally, different nuclei together, you need nuclear fusion, and that requires high temperature and high pressure, first to ionize the atom and strip away the electron shells, and second to bring the nuclei close enough together that the residual binding energy can overcome the electromagnetic force.
Heavy nuclei are unstable due to the repulsive forces between protons in the nucleus, which increases with the number of protons. This can lead to spontaneous decay processes, such as alpha decay or fission, in order to achieve a more stable configuration with a lower energy state. Additionally, the binding energy per nucleon decreases for very heavy nuclei, making them more prone to decay.
Electrons are found in the energy levels around the nucleus of an atom. These electrons are negatively charged particles that occupy specific energy levels or orbitals based on their energy.
The respective electron has to lose energy.
Electrons are typically found in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus of an atom, rather than directly adjacent to the protons in the nucleus. The electrons occupy different energy levels or shells around the nucleus based on their energy.
Electrons in the innermost energy levels, closest to the nucleus, require the most energy to be absorbed in order to be excited to higher energy levels. These electrons have lower energy levels due to their proximity to the nucleus, which causes them to experience a stronger attraction and need more energy to be removed.
The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. It is a short-range force that only acts over distances on the order of a few femtometers.
Electrons fill the 1st energy level first because it has the lowest energy and is closest to the nucleus. Electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus and fill the energy levels in order of increasing distance from the nucleus.
An unstable isotope with extra energy in the nucleus is a radioactive isotope. This extra energy causes the nucleus to undergo radioactive decay, emitting particles or gamma rays in order to become more stable. This process can involve the release of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma radiation.
The electron loses energy in order to go from an "excited" shell back to its "original" shell. This releases energy in the form of a photon - an xray.