Question

Show that ${}_{92}^{230}U$ does not decay be emitting a neutron or proton. Given: $M{(}_{92}^{230}U)=230.033927amu,M{(}_{92}^{230}U)=229.033496amu,M{(}_{92}^{229}Pa)=229.032089amu,m(n)=1.008665amu,m(p)=1.007825amu$

Answer 1

For proton,

${}_{92}^{230}U{+}_1^{1}p{\to }_{92}^{230}U△m=229.033496-230.033927=-1.000431$

$\because △m$ is negative so it does not decay be emitting a proton.

Similarly, $△m$ will be negative for neutron decay.