Fig. 18.1 illustrates the zone of stability. What is the zone of stability? Stable light nuclides have about equal numbers of neutrons and protons. What happens to the neutron-to-proton ratio for stable nuclides as the number of protons increases? Nuclides that are not already in the zone of stability undergo radioactive processes to get to the zone of stability. If a nuclide has too many neutrons, which process(es) can the nuclide undergo to become more stable? Answer the same question for a nuclide having too many protons.

Fig. 18.1

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Number of neutrons (A - Z) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 202 80 Hg (1.53:1 ratio)- Unstable region (too many neutrons; spontaneous beta production) 20 zone of stability Stable nuclides in the Li (1:1 ratio) 1:1 neutron-t Love TANEET HAARLES 4Cd (1.29:1 ratio) Unstable region (too many protons; spontaneous positron production) 40 60 Number of protons (Z) 80 proton ratio. 100