Talk:Neutron–proton ratio

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Because the article (as written) references the N/Z ratio, the title of the page should reflect that. Can someone make that change? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 158.28.225.232 (talk) 15:19, 25 October 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The article states, “Light elements, up to calcium (Z = 20), have stable isotopes with N/Z ratio of one except for beryllium (N/Z ratio = 1.25), and every element with odd proton numbers from fluorine to potassium.” Something is missing here. My copy of 'Nuclides and Isotopes: Chart of the Nuclides' (17th edition) (published by the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 2009) shows plainly that the nuclides with odd N=Z are unstable. Someone who knows nuclear physics should fix this.

Why are all the N=Z nuclides from Z = 1 to Z = 8 stable, and all the even N=Z nuclides from Z = 2 to Z = 20 stable and not the others? Why does the ratio N/Z increase so sharply at Z = 20? (If these are among the unsolved problems of physics, say so.)

Solo Owl 20:17, 22 November 2014 (UTC)