Nuclei above the belt of stability can lower their neutron- to- proton ratio by _

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nuclei above the belt of stability have an excess of neutrons compared to protons, making them unstable. The most common way for these nuclei to stabilize is by undergoing beta decay, which involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton and the emission of an electron and a neutrino. This process lowers the neutron-to-proton ratio and moves the nucleus closer to the band of stability. Gamma emission does not affect the neutron-to-proton ratio because gamma rays are high-energy photons that do not carry any charge or mass. Positron emission and electron capture also involve changes in the number of protons and neutrons, but they do not result in a decrease in the neutron-to-proton ratio.

Nuclei Above the Belt of Stability Can Lower Their Neutron-