The element uranium (U, atomic no. = 92)often has 146 (or more)neutrons but it will still undergo radioactive decay. Which statement might best describe why?
A)The attractive forces of the nucleons have a limited range.
B)Any isolated neutron is not stable and will undergo spontaneous transformation into a proton and an electron.
C)The force is strong with U, but tainted with the dark side it is.
D)both A and B
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Uranium undergoes radioactive decay because the attractive forces of the nucleons have a limited range, which means that the strong nuclear force that binds the nucleons together weakens as the distance between them increases beyond a certain point. This can result in an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay. Additionally, any isolated neutron is not stable and will undergo spontaneous transformation into a proton and an electron, which can also contribute to the instability of uranium nuclei with excess neutrons.

The Element Uranium (U, Atomic No