Question:
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus Triton contains 2 neutrons and 1 proton. Free neutrons decay into
(a) Triton energy is less than that of a He3 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
Solution:
(a) Triton energy is less than that of a He3 nucleus