Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus triton contains \(2\) neutrons and \(1\) proton. Free neutrons decay into\(p+e^{-1}+\nu^{-1}.\) If one of the neutrons in Triton decays, it would transform into \(\mathrm{He}^{3}\) nucleus. This does not happen. This is because:
1. triton energy is less than that of a \(\mathrm{He}^{3}\) nucleus.
2. the electron created in the beta decay process cannot remain in the nucleus.
3. both the neutrons in Triton have to decay simultaneously resulting in a nucleus with \(3\) protons, which is not a \(\mathrm{He}^{3}\) nucleus.
4. free neutrons decay due to external perturbations which is absent in Triton nucleus.
(1) Hint: The transformation requires energy.
Step 1: Find the change in energy in the transformation.
 Tritium (1He3) contains 1 proton and 2 neutrons. A neutron decays as np+e¯+ν¯, the nucleus may have 2 protons and one neutron, i.e., tritium will transform into He32 (2 protons and 1 neutron)
Triton energy is less than that of He32 nucleus, i.e., transformation is not allowed energetically.