Question

Question: In nature, lithium exists in two isotopes: lithium-6, with three neutrons in its nucleus, and lithium-7, with four as individual atoms, would these behave as Bosons or as Fermions? Might a gas of either behave as a gas of Bosons? Explain.

Short answer

Answer:

Pairing up of valence electrons of each lithium-6 atom with another atom in lithium-6 gas will result in the integral spin of the system and will lead to Bosonic behavior.

Step-by-step solution

A concept:

Particles that carry forces, are known as "bosons."

In particle physics, a boson is a subatomic particle whose spin quantum number has an integer value. Bosons form one of the two basic classes of subatomic particles, the other being fermions, which have an odd half-number spin.

Natural lithium consists of two isotopes: Lithium-7 and Lithium-6 . Lithium-6 has 3 protons (as it must if it is to be the element Lithium) but only 3 neutrons, so it has a mass number of 6.

Explanation of Bosons:

As individual atoms, lithium-6 will behave as fermion; lithium- 7 will behave as a boson. Lithium-6 gas can behave as a boson. The lithium-6 atom has only one electron in its outermost orbit (2s). Hence, if it pairs with the other Lithium-6 atom-forming gas, the gas will behave as a boson.

Pairing lithium-6 and lithium-7:

As individual atoms, lithium-6 has a total of 9 particles (protons, electrons, and neutrons 3 each). Hence, there is a net half-integral spin that results in Fermion behavior. A particle with a half-integral spin obeys Pauli's exclusion principle and each one occupies a separate state. Whereas in lithium- 7 the excess one neutron results in a net integral spin of the isotope and behave as a boson.

Pairing up the valence electrons of each lithium-6 atom with other atoms, an atom in lithium-6 gas will result in an integral spin of the system and will lead to Bosonic behavior.