Which member of the following pairs of nuclides would you...

Which member of the following pairs of nuclides would you expect to be most abundant in natural sources: (a) $_{10}^{20} \mathrm{Ne}$ or $_{10}^{22} \mathrm{Ne} ;$ (b) $_{8}^{17} \mathrm{O}$ or $_{8}^{18} \mathrm{O} ;$ (c) $_{3}^{6} \mathrm{Li}$ or $_{3}^{7} \mathrm{Li} ?$ Explain your reasoning.

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Key Concepts

Nucleosynthesis

Nucleosynthesis involves the processes by which elements and their isotopes are formed in stellar environments and supernovae. The specific paths of these processes tend to favor the production of isotopes that are more stable, thereby affecting the natural distributions and abundances of different isotopes.

Neutron-to-Proton Ratio

The neutron-to-proton ratio is critical in determining the stability of a nucleus. An optimal ratio maximizes the binding energy per nucleon, and nuclei that deviate significantly from this optimal ratio tend to be less stable. This balance influences which isotopes are found in greater quantities naturally.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of the same chemical element that possess the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This variance in neutron count results in different mass numbers, which in turn can affect the physical stability and natural abundance of each isotope.

Nuclear Stability

Nuclear stability refers to the tendency of a nucleus to remain intact without decaying. Factors such as the balance between the number of protons and neutrons, and the overall binding energy, determine how stable a nucleus is. More stable isotopes are typically more abundant in nature because they have lower probabilities of undergoing radioactive decay.

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