Q13.5Multiple choice
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus Triton contains 2 neutrons and 1 proton. Free neutrons decay into p + e + ν . If one of the neutrons in Triton decays, it would transform into He nucleus. This does not happen. This is because
- (a)Triton energy is less than that of a He nucleus.
- (b)the electron created in the beta decay process cannot remain in the nucleus.
- (c)both the neutrons in triton have to decay simultaneously resulting in a nucleus with 3 protons, which is not a He3 nucleus.
- (d)because free neutrons decay due to external perturbations which is absent in a triton nucleus.