What happens when an atomic nucleus has too many neutrons?
If an atom has “too many” neutrons in its nucleus, it is unstable and will be vulnerable to radioactive decay. This decay will occur principally through what is called beta minus decay. In beta minus decay, a neutron in an atom’s nucleus transforms into a proton. As a result of this transformation, a beta minus particle, which is an electron, is created and is ejected from the nucleus of the atom (along with an antineutrino). Nuclear transformation (called transmutation) has occurred and the atomic number of the atom to increase by one because of the addition of another proton to the atom’s nucleus. A link can be found below for more information.
