Which of the following statements best describes why a large nucleus is more likely to undergo radioactive decay?
A)The nuclear forces are not as strong as the repulsive electrical forces between nucleons.
B)The nuclear force between the nucleons are very strong and squeeze out other nucleons.
C)The nucleon-nucleon attraction is stronger than the proton-proton repulsion.
D)The proton-proton repulsion cannot overcome the nucleon attraction.
E)All nuclei are equally likely to undergo radioactive decay.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nuclear forces, which act to hold the nucleus together, have a very short range and are most effective at short distances. As the nucleus becomes larger, the repulsive electrical forces between the positively charged protons, which have a much longer range, start to dominate because the protons are further apart from each other. This imbalance makes the nucleus less stable and more likely to undergo radioactive decay to reach a more stable configuration.

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes Why a Large