Radioactive Decay

views updated May 23 2018

Radioactive Decay

The nucleus of each atom has a fixed number of protons and neutrons and is either stable or unstable, depending on several factors. In general, the most stable atoms are those that have an equal number of protons and neutrons and do not have too large a number of protons and neutrons together. (Very large nuclei are unstable even if they contain equal numbers of neutrons and protons.) Atoms whose nuclei are unstable are radioactive, and an atom that is radioactive can also be called a radionuclide. Of the known nuclides (approximately 2,000), only 264 are stable, and of the known radionuclides (approximately 1,700), only 70 occur in nature; the rest are man-made. Unstable atoms undergo a process called radioactive decay to reach a more stable state.

While a radionuclide is going through the process of decay, energy is released from the atom in one of three modes: alpha, beta, or gamma radiation. These modes may take several steps, involving only the nucleus or the entire atom. Each radionuclide has one or more characteristic modes of decay. The particular mode of decay determines the type of energy, or radiation, released from the atom, and consists of either subatomic particles, photons, or both.

Radionuclides are unstable to varying degrees. The more unstable a radionuclide is the faster it decays. The quantity of a radioactive substance is expressed as disintegrations per second, in units of Curies (Ci) named for Marie Curie (18671934), or if Syste`me International is used, Becquerels (Bq) named for Henri Becquerel (18521909). The rate at which a radionuclide decays depends upon its half-life, the expected time required for half of the nuclei to decay to a stable state. The half-life is typically not affected by temperature, pressure, or gravitational, magnetic, or electrical fields.

When radioactivity was first discovered, it was thought that all the energy given off by the radionuclide was basically the same, with differences only in penetrating power. However, research conducted by Becquerel and Pierre Curie (18591906) proved that there were three distinct modes of radioactive decay, which differed not only in their ability to penetrate, but also in their velocity, as well as their susceptibility to magnetic fields.

Alpha and beta radioemissions are actually particulate matter that is thrown out from the nucleus. An alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons, or in other words, it is a helium atom without the electrons. After an alpha particle is emitted, the atomic mass decreases by four, and the number of protons and neutrons decrease by two. Alpha decay occurs in radionuclides with an atomic number greater than 83 and a mass number greater than 209. Alpha particles interact with negatively charged electrons in the environment, which consequently use up the energy in the particle, slowing it down and greatly diminishing its penetrating power. Even a sheet of paper can stop an alpha particle. The direction of an alpha particle is only slightly affected by a magnetic field because the particle has a balanced change. When a radionuclide decays by alpha radiation, it does not just disappear. Instead, the radionuclide transmutes into another radionuclide or nuclide. For example, uranium-238 transmutes into several other radionuclides, including radium-226 and radon-222, before ending up as lead-206, a stable nuclide.

Beta radiation, which also involves particulate emissions, can either be negatively charged or positively charged. Beta particles are actually created in the nucleus by either a proton changing into a neutron (positron emission) or a neutron changing into a proton (negatron emission). A beta particle has a higher velocity than an alpha particle, and its path is markedly deflected by a magnetic field. When a negatron is emitted from an atom, the atomic mass of the atom is unchanged, the number of protons increases by one, and the number of neutrons decreases by one. The mass remains unchanged when a positron is emitted, the number of neutrons increases by one, and the number of protons decreases by one.

An atom usually becomes excited from either of the above-mentioned decay processes and sheds excess energy in the form of a gamma ray photon. With gamma emissions, the atomic mass, number of protons (atomic number), or the number of neutrons, remains unchanged. Since a gamma ray is an electromagnetic wave, its velocity is that of light or any other electromagnetic wave, such as an x ray. Electromagnetic waves are not diverted by electric or magnetic fields.

Radioactive Decay

views updated May 18 2018

Radioactive decay

The nucleus of each atom has a specific number of protons and neutrons and is either stable or unstable, depending on the relative number of each. The most stable atoms are those that have an equal number of protons and neutrons. Atoms that are unstable are radioactive. An atom that is radioactive can also be called a radionuclide. Of the known nuclides (approximately 2,000), only 264 are stable, and of the known radionuclides (approximately 1,700), only 70 occur in nature. The rest are man-made. Unstable atoms undergo a process called radioactive decay to reach a more stable state.

While a radionuclide is going through the process of decay, energy is released from the atom in one of three modes: alpha, beta, or gamma radiation . These modes may take several steps, involving only the nucleus or the entire atom. Each radionuclide has one or more characteristic modes of decay. The particular mode of decay determines the type of energy, or radiation, released from the atom, and consists of either subatomic particles , photons, or both.

Radionuclides are unstable to varying degrees. The more unstable a radionuclide is the faster it decays. The quantity of a radioactive substance is expressed as disintegrations per second, in units of Curies (Ci) named for Marie Curie, or if Système International is used, Becquerels (Bq) named for Henri Becquerel. The rate at which a radionuclide decays depends upon its half-life , the expected time required for half of the nuclei to decay to a stable state. The half-life is typically not affected by temperature , pres sure, or gravitational, magnetic, or electrical fields.

When radioactivity was first discovered, it was thought that all the energy given off by the radionuclide was basically the same, with differences only in penetrating power. However, research conducted by Becquerel and Pierre Curie proved that there were three distinct modes of radioactive decay, which differed not only in their ability to penetrate, but also in their velocity , as well as their susceptibility to magnetic fields.

Alpha and beta radioemissions are actually particulate matter that is thrown out from the nucleus. An alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons, or in other words, it is a helium atom without the electrons. After an alpha particle is emitted, the atomic mass decreases by four, and the number of protons and neutrons decrease by two. Alpha decay occurs in radionuclides with an atomic number greater than 83 and a mass number greater than 209. Alpha particles interact with negatively charged electrons in the environment, which consequently use up th e energy in the particle, slowing it down and greatly diminishing its penetrating power. Even a sheet of paper can stop an alpha particle. The direction of an alpha particle is only slightly affected by a magnetic field because the particle has a balanced change. When a radionuclide decays by a lpha radiation, it does not just disappear. Instead, the radionuclide transmutes into another radionuclide or nuclide. For example, uranium-238 transmutes into several other radionuclides, including radium-226 and radon-222, before ending up as lead-206, a stable nuclide.

Beta radiation, which also involves particulate emissions, can be either be negatively charged or positively charged. Beta particles are actually created in the nucleus by either a proton changing into a neutron (positron emission ) or a neutron changing into a p roton (negatron emission). A beta particle has a higher velocity than an alpha particle, and its path is markedly deflected by a magnetic field. When a negatron is emitted from an atom, the atomic mass of the atom is unchanged, the number of protons increases by one, and the number of neutrons decreases by one. The mass remains unchanged when a positron is emitted, the number of neutrons increases by one, and the number of protons decreases by one.

An atom usually becomes excited from either of the above-mentioned decay processes and sheds excess energy in the form of a gamma ray photon . With gamma emissions, the atomic mass, number of protons (atomic number), or the number of neutrons, remains unchanged. The velocity of a gamma ray is almost that of light and is not affected by magnetic fields.

radioactive decay

views updated May 17 2018

radioactive decay Process by which a radioactive isotope (radioisotope) loses subatomic particles from its nucleus and so becomes a different element. The disintegration of the nuclei occurs with the emission of alpha particles (helium nuclei) or beta particles (electrons), often accompanied by gamma radiation. The two processes of alpha or beta decay cause the radioisotope to transform into a different atom. Alpha decay results in the nucleus losing two protons and two neutrons; beta decay occurs when a neutron changes into a proton, with an electron (beta particle) emitted in the process. Thus, the atomic number (total protons in the nucleus if an atom) changes in both types of decay, and an isotope of another element is produced that might also be radioactive. In a large collection of atoms, there is a characteristic time (the half-life) after which one-half of the total number of nuclei would have decayed. This time varies from millionths of a second to millions of years, depending on the isotope concerned. The activity of any radioactive sample decreases exponentially with time. See also carbon dating

Radioactive Decay

views updated Jun 27 2018

Radioactive decay

Radioactive decay is the process by which an atomic nucleus undergoes a spontaneous change, emitting an alpha particle or beta particle and/or a gamma ray . Radioactive decay is a natural process that takes place in the air, water, and soil at all times. The decay of isotopes such as uranium-238, radium-226, radon-222, potassium-40, and carbon-14 produce radiation that poses an unavoidable and, probably, minimal hazard to human health. Scientists have also learned how to convert stable isotopes to radioactive forms. The radioactive decay of these isotopes has been added to the natural background radiation from naturally radioactive materials.

See also Carbon; Radioactive fallout; Radioactivity

radioactive decay

views updated May 08 2018

radioactive decay Process by which a radioactive ‘parent’ element loses elementary particles from its nucleus and in doing so becomes a stable ‘daughter’ element. The rate of decay is constant for a given element and is a very precise and accurate device for the measurement of geologic time. See also DECAY CONSTANT; and DECAY CURVE.