Nuclear stability and decay modes

How can the stability of a nuclide be determined?

What does the stability of a nucleus depend on?

What are the features of an N-Z graph?

What are unstable nuclei above the stability curve called?

What are unstable nuclei below the stability curve called?

How can unstable neutron rich nuclei become more stable?

How can unstable neutron poor nuclei become more stable?

When can electron capture occur?

What happens in electron capture?

What effect does alpha decay have on the position of the nucleus relative to the stability curve and why?

What nuclei participate in Alpha decay?

Where does the effect of Alpha decay occur on the curve and why?

What are decay chains?

What four decay chains naturally occur?

What may happen after a nucleus has undergone a chain of reactions?

What must elements in an excited state do to reach its ground state?

What is a meta stable state?