Isotopes with the lowest possible n/p ratio are the most stable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Isotopes with a lower n/p (neutron/proton) ratio have relatively more protons than neutrons, which creates a more stable nucleus because the protons' repulsive forces are balanced by the strong nuclear force that holds the nucleus together. Therefore, isotopes with the lowest possible n/p ratio (i.e., where the number of protons and neutrons are equal, such as helium-4) are the most stable of all isotopes.

Isotopes with the Lowest Possible N/p Ratio Are the Most