University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 43 - Nuclear Physics - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 1474: Q43.5

Answer

The six elements have Z = 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, and 82. Z=126 would also qualify, but that nuclide has not been observed in nature.

Work Step by Step

This is discussed on page 1450. The numbers result because of an exclusion principle for nuclei. Such elements have a greater number of stable isotopes than average. They have a higher binding energy per nucleon than neighboring elements.
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