Which of the following is an important factor in predicting the nuclear stability of an isotope? (A) Atomic radius (B) Nuclear radius (C) The ratio of neutrons to protons (D) The ratio of electrons to protons - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2009 - Paper 1

The nuclear stability of an isotope is largely influenced by the ratio of neutrons to protons (N/Z ratio). A stable nucleus typically has a balanced ratio of neutrons to protons, which helps in mitigating repulsive forces between protons due to their positive charge. If there are too many or too few neutrons compared to protons, the nucleus may become unstable, leading to radioactive decay.