Respuesta :
It might be difficult to use only a nuclide’s N/Z ratio to predict whether it will decay by β⁺ emission or by e⁻ capture because There is no way to predict when a particular (pun) nucleus is going to decay.
A nucleus consists of protons and neutrons held together by powerful forces. Certain combinations are more stable than others, it has to do with ratios and 'gluons' but I will avoid that.
Why can we not predict exactly how many nuclei will decay each second?
Radioactive decay is a random process. A block of radioactive material will contain many trillions of nuclei and not all nuclei are likely to decay at the same time so it is impossible to tell when a particular nucleus will decay.
How the neutron to proton ratio can affect the type of radioactive decay?
Beta decay occurs when a nucleus has too many neutrons and too few protons (the neutron to proton ratio is too high).
The nucleus becomes more stable by changing a neutron into a proton and an electron ( particle). The proton remains in the nucleus and the beta particle is ejected at high speed.
Learn more about nucleus here:
