Found that Radium produced two types of particle upon decay. Balancing Nuclear Equations-mass and charge of reactant and products must balance. Examples of Balancing Nuclear Equations-if you know all but one of the factors in a nuclear reaction, you can determine the unknown. Such a series is called a radioactive series. C. Stability of Atomic Nuclei 1.
Neutrons moderate the repulsive forces between the protons.
Magic numbers-nuclear shells are filled by protons or neutrons. Any combination of nucleons which gives these numbers provides a more stable isotope. Isotopes containing both a magic number of protons and neutrons are especially stable. Unstable isotopes will often change in such a way as to become like one of the stable isotopes. Binding Energy-the energy released when a nucleus is formed from its constituent parts.