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The Band of Stability Predicts Decay Mode

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State

Plotting neutron against proton count for known nuclides traces a narrow band of stability; a nuclide's position relative to it predicts its decay mode.

Show

Lighter stable nuclides cluster near a 1:1 ratio; heavier ones need progressively more neutrons than protons.

Watch for

Mistaking the band for an explanation of instability, rather than an empirical predictor of decay mode, is the error.