Does the nucleus of an atom ever lose particles?
In some atoms, the binding energy is great enough to hold the nucleus together. The nucleus of this kind of atom is said to be stable. In some atoms the binding energy is not strong enough to hold the nucleus together, and the nuclei of these atoms are said to be unstable. Unstable atoms will lose neutrons and protons as they attempt to become stable. Review: • Electromagnetic fields cause like charges to repel each other and unlike charges to attract each other. • The protons stay together in the nucleus because the strong force opposes and overcomes the forces of repulsion from the electromagnetic field. • Binding energy is the energy that is associated with the strong force, and this energy holds the nucleus together. • A stable atom is an atom that has enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together permanently.
