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Every element with atomic number lower than lead has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. Lead(Pb)-208 is the heaviest known stable nucleus and most stable heavy metal. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as nucleon spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, polymeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and meta-stable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. These nuclear reactions that result in unstable nuclei are endothermic (requires energy input). For example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes exothermic decay back to the stable nucleus in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.

Every element with atomic number lower than lead has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. Lead(Pb)-208 is the heaviest known stable nucleus and most stable heavy metal. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as nucleon spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, isomeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and meta-stable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. These nuclear reactions that result in unstable nuclei are endothermic (requires energy input). For example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes exothermic decay back to the stable nucleus in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.

Every element with atomic number lower than lead has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. Lead-208 is the heaviest known stable nucleus and most stable heavy metal. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as neutron spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, polymeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and metastable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. for example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes decay back to the stable isotope in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.

Every element with atomic number lower than lead has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. Lead(Pb)-208 is the heaviest known stable nucleus and most stable heavy metal. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as nucleon spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, polymeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and meta-stable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. These nuclear reactions that result in unstable nuclei are endothermic (requires energy input). For example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes exothermic decay back to the stable nucleus in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.

Every element with atomic number lower than iron has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as neutron spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, polymeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and metastable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. for example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes decay back to the stable isotope in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.

Every element with atomic number lower than lead has a most stable isotope that predominates in nature. Lead-208 is the heaviest known stable nucleus and most stable heavy metal. The stability is determined by least amount of binding energy required for keeping the nucleus together. There are a number of factors at play here such as neutron spin, odd-even proton number, coulomb repulsion, polymeric quantum levels, etc whose interplay is non-trivial and beyond the scope of question.

Unstable and metastable isotopes are caused by external radiation or neutron absorption. for example, Carbon-14 is generated when normal Nitrogen-14 is bombarded by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere. The radioactive isotopes decay back to the stable isotope in an exponentially decreasing statistical time period know as half-life due to quantum tunneling.