1. Tardigrade
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  4. Which of the following is most unstable?

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Q. Which of the following is most unstable?

Punjab PMETPunjab PMET 2006

Solution:

(a) Electron revolves around the nucleus of an atom in different atoms. It is a stable particle.
(b) Proton has positive charge and its mass is $1836$ times the electronic mass. In free state, the proton is a stable particle.
(c) Neutron carries no charge. Its mass is $1839$ times the electric mass $ (1.675\times {{10}^{-27}}kg) $ . In free state the neutron is unstable (its mean life is about $17$ min), but it constitutes a stable nucleus along with proton.
(d) $ \alpha - $ particle is a helium nucleus whose atomic number is $2$ and mass number is $4$. Hence, out of the given four options neutron is most unstable.