Answer:
all of the above
Explanation:
In the center of an atom is its nucleus, which although small, contains almost the entire mass of the atom. Protons and neutrons are the particles found therein, each with a unitary atomic mass. The number of protons in the nucleus establishes the atomic number of the chemical element and the number of protons plus the number of neutrons is the atomic mass number. The electrons are outside the nucleus and have small mass.
The proton charge is considered to be +1; the electron charge equals -1, and the neutron charge equals 0. As is well known, electric charges of the same intensity and opposite signals are neutralized. That is, the electrical charge of a (positive) proton overrides the electrical charge of a (negative) electron. Any atom has the same number of protons and electrons; therefore, its core is electrically neutral.
If, based on this, a plot of neutron versus proton numbers were created, a stability band would be formed that is indicative of stable nuclei, ie neutral nuclei. Nuclei that were out of band would undergo spontaneous radioactive decay. In addition, the position of a nucleus relative to the band would determine the type of decay the nucleus would undergo.
