- Choose the one FALSE statement.
A. Nuclei with an even number of protons and an even number of neutrons tend to be
stable.
B. “γ”-rays are high-energy photons.
C. Nuclei with too few neutrons per proton tend to undergo positron (^01 b) emission.
D. Light nuclides are stable when the atomic number (Z) equals the mass number
minus the atomic number (A–Z).
E. Nuclei with too many neutrons per proton tend to undergo β-particle (- 10 e) emission.
Answer: E
Positron production occurs for nuclides that are below the zone of stability (those nuclides
whose neutron/proton ratios are too small). The net effect of positron emission is to change a
proton to a neutron. An example of positron emission would be
(^2211) Na" (^01) e+ (^2210) Ne
Nuclides with too many neutrons per proton tend to undergo β-particle production. The net
effect of β-particle production is to change a neutron to a proton. Examples of β-particle
production are
(^23490) Th" (^23491) Pa+- (^01) e
(^13153) IXee" (^13154) +- (^01)
Questions 5–9
A.^20180 Hg++-^01 e"^20179 Au^00 c
B.^116 CeB"^01 +^115
C.^23793 Np"^42 He+^23391 Pa
D.^23592 U+++ 01 n"^14156 Ba^9236 Kr 310 n
E.^21483 Bi"^21484 Po+-^01 e
- Alpha (α)-particle production.
Answer: C
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus.
Part II: Specific Topics