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Ishana92 t1_iyvalhh wrote

Can you explain why multiples of four matter here?

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Qrkchrm t1_iyvcg6u wrote

Just like electrons have orbital shells that affect chemical stability, the nucleus has quantum states with different binding energies. In general even numbers of protons and neutrons are higher binding energy that odd numbers. Helium 4 is particularly high binding energy, as it is double magic.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_number_(physics)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy#/media/File%3ABinding_energy_curve_-_common_isotopes.svg

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