Stable Isotope
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A stable isotope is an isotope which has a long half life compared to other isotopes.
About Stable Isotopes
- Stable isotopes do not decay to emit ionising radiation.
- The stability of an isotope is a relative term. Two isotopes may both be unstable but one may be more stable than another.
- The stability of an isotope depends on the ratio of protons to neutrons in the nucleus. For small nuclei the ratio of protons to neutrons is usually 1:1. For large nuclei a greater number of neutrons than protons are needed for the isotope to be stable.