Among the isotopes of nitrogen, nitrogen-14 (N-14) is the most stable. Nitrogen has a total of five protons and can have varying numbers of neutrons, resulting in different isotopes. N-14 has seven neutrons, which creates a stable balance between the protons and neutrons, adhering to the nuclear stability guidelines. In contrast, nitrogen-11, which has two neutrons, and nitrogen-12, with three neutrons, are both unstable and undergo radioactive decay. Nitrogen-15, while also stable with eight neutrons, is less common than N-14. Therefore, the stability of nitrogen isotopes can largely be attributed to the ratio of protons to neutrons, and N-14 strikes the ideal balance, making it the predominant and stable isotope of nitrogen.
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