Which isotopes of magnesium are stable and not radioactive?

The isotopes of magnesium that are considered stable and not radioactive are primarily Mg-24, Mg-25, and Mg-26. Among these, Mg-24 is the most abundant isotope, comprising about 79% of naturally occurring magnesium. The stability of these isotopes is attributed to their neutron-to-proton ratios, which fall within a range that allows for the strong nuclear force to effectively hold the nucleus together without resulting in radioactive decay.

Isotopes like Mg-23 and Mg-27 do not fit the criteria for stability, as Mg-23 is radioactive and has a half-life of about 11.5 hours, while Mg-27 also has a very short half-life. The other options contain isotopes that have unstable configurations leading to radioactive decay, such as Mg-23 and Mg-30, which further clarifies why option B correctly identifies Mg-24, Mg-25, and Mg-26 as stable isotopes of magnesium. This understanding of isotope stability is crucial for applications in nuclear chemistry and various scientific research areas.