In: Chemistry
Which of the following isotopes is likely to be stable?
A. |
Sodium-22 |
|
B. |
Cobalt-58 |
|
C. |
Carbon-13 |
|
D. |
Uranium-235 |
|
E. |
Calcium-40 |
Option E. Calcium-40 is correct
Calcium-40 is stable because it's contain 20 proton and 20 neutron so both are even so even number neutron containing atoms are generally stable and since both neutron and proton are 20 and 20 is also a magic number (particular numbers like 2,8,20,28,50 ..... ), The atoms containing magic number of protons and neutrons are stable.
Sodium-22 is unstable because Sodium-23 is natural occuring so sodium-22 is radioactive.
Cobalt-58 is unstable because cabalt-59 is only natural occuring stable atom of cobalt.
Carbon-13 is also unstable because carbon-12 is natural occuring stable carbon isotope.
Uranium-235 is also unstable because it has high number of neutron to proton ratio so unstable only uranium-238 is stable isotope.