
Neutrons stabilize the nucleus because they attract each other and protons, which helps offset the electrical repulsion between protons. There are only certain combinations of neutrons and protons, which form stable nuclei. These two forces compete, leading to various stability of nuclei. The excess neutrons act somewhat like nuclear glue.Ītomic nuclei consist of protons and neutrons, which attract each other through the nuclear force, while protons repel each other via the electric force due to their positive charge. These extra neutrons are necessary for the stability of the heavier nuclei. It can be observed from the chart that there are more neutrons than protons in nuclides with Z greater than about 20 (Calcium). This chart shows a plot of the known nuclides as a function of their atomic and neutron numbers. Also, to help understand this concept, there is a chart of the nuclides, known as a Segre chart. To determine the stability of an isotope, you can use the ratio neutron/proton (N/Z). It is needed to find the ratio of neutrons to protons to identify the stability of an isotope. Nuclear stability is a concept that helps to identify the stability of an isotope. These extra neutrons are necessary for the stability of the heavier nuclei, and the excess neutrons act somewhat like nuclear glue. It can be observed from the chart that there are more neutrons than protons in nuclides with Z greater than about 20 (Calcium). Atoms such as 1H, 2H whose nuclei contain the same number of protons but the different number of neutrons (different A), are known as isotopes.Ītomic Number and Nuclear Stability Segre chart – This chart shows a plot of the known nuclides as a function of their atomic and neutron numbers. 2H is the hydrogen nuclide with a neutron and a proton in the nucleus (2H is also called deuterium or heavy hydrogen). Thus the symbol 1H refers to the nuclide of hydrogen with a single proton in the nucleus. Each nuclide is denoted by the element’s chemical symbol (this specifies Z) with the atomic mass number as superscript. The various species of atoms whose nuclei contain particular numbers of protons and neutrons are called nuclides. The total number of nucleons, protons, and neutrons in a nucleus are equal to Z + N = A, where A is called the mass number. The number of neutrons in a nucleus is known as the neutron number and is given the symbol N. Hydrogen (H), for example, consists of one electron and one proton. In the periodic table, the elements are listed to increase the atomic number Z. The number of electrons in each element’s electron shells, particularly the outermost valence shell, is the primary factor determining its chemical bonding behavior. The configuration of these electrons follows the principles of quantum mechanics. The atom’s chemical properties are determined by the number of protons and the number and arrangement of electrons.
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Since the number of electrons is responsible for the chemical behavior of atoms, the atomic number identifies the various chemical elements. Each electron is influenced by the electric fields produced by the positive nuclear charge and the other (Z – 1) negative electrons in the atom. Therefore, the total electrical charge of the nucleus is +Ze, where e (elementary charge) equals 1,602 x 10 -19coulombs. The number of electrons in an electrically-neutral atom is the same as the number of protons in the nucleus. The total number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is called the atomic number (or the proton number) of the atom and is given the symbol Z. The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons. The atom consists of a small but massive nucleus surrounded by a cloud of rapidly moving electrons. The total electrical charge of the nucleus is therefore +Ze.

The number of electrons in an electrically-neutral atom is the same as the atomic number. The atomic number or proton number is defined as the total number of protons in the nucleus and is given the symbol Z.
