Nuclei with a higher than desired neutron-to-proton ratios tend to undergo which type of decay?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nuclei with a higher than desired neutron-to-proton ratio tend to undergo beta decay in order to change the ratio and reach a more stable state. Alpha decay involves the emission of a helium nucleus, which does not affect the neutron-to-proton ratio, and gamma decay involves the release of a high-energy photon, which also does not change the ratio. Therefore, only beta decay is the best choice for nuclei with a higher than desired neutron-to-proton ratio.

Nuclei with a Higher Than Desired Neutron-To-Proton Ratios Tend to Undergo