Airmid Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 Could someone please explain to me why Be-8 is unstable? I tried to find the answer on the web, but all I could find were references to how unstable it is, and what the consequence of that are. Thanks, Airmid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 Because He-4 is very tightly bound (filled shell of both neutrons and protons, and only two protons), so splitting into a pair of alphas is a lower energy state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airmid Posted December 25, 2006 Author Share Posted December 25, 2006 Thanks, I think the word "shell" in your reply opened Pandora's box for me. This is what you're talking about, isn't it? Airmid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Yes, it is. Science is often that way. Answering one question often brings about others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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