Examples of radioactive decay in the following topics:
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- Radioactive decay series describe the decay of different discrete radioactive decay products as a chained series of transformations.
- Radioactive decay series, or decay chains, describe the radioactive decay of different discrete radioactive decay products as a chained series of transformations.
- Most radioactive elements do not decay directly to a stable state; rather, they undergo a series of decays until eventually a stable isotope is reached.
- For example, natural uranium is not significantly radioactive, but pitchblende, a uranium ore, is 13 times more radioactive because of the radium and other daughter isotopes it contains.
- Not only are unstable radium isotopes significant radioactivity emitters, but as the next stage in the decay chain they also generate radon, a heavy, inert, naturally occurring radioactive gas.
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- Radioactive decay is a random process at the single-atom level; is impossible to predict exactly when a particular atom will decay.
- The following equation is used to predict the number of atoms (N) of a a given radioactive sample that remain after a given time (t):
- This relationship between the half-life and the decay constant shows that highly radioactive substances are quickly spent, while those that radiate weakly endure longer.
- A simulation of many identical atoms undergoing radioactive decay, starting with four atoms (left) and 400 atoms (right).
- Nuclear half-life is the time that it takes for one half of a radioactive sample to decay.
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- Radioactive decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or light waves.
- Radioactive decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting energy in the form of emitted particles or electromagnetic waves, called radiation.
- Such isotopes are radioactive, and are referred to as "radioisotopes."
- The higher the energy, the more the particles or light produced by radioactive decay will penetrate a substance.
- In radioactive nuclei with too many neutrons, a neutron can be converted into an electron, called beta particle.
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- Radon gas, the result of radium's radioactive decay, can severely compromise indoor air quality.
- Radon is a dense, colorless, odorless noble gas that occurs naturally in the soil as the product of the radioactive decay of radium; it is a decay product of uranium and thorium, which occur naturally in the Earth's crust.
- Radon decays to form daughters, or decay products, which include radioactive polonium, lead, and bismuth.
- Radon is a gas, but these decay products are solids that can attach to dust and enter the lungs.
- Radon and its daughters continue to decay in the lungs, releasing alpha and beta particles that can damage cellular DNA and result in lung cancer.
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- Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus.
- Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus, as shown in .
- There are two types of beta decay.
- Beta decay is mediated by the weak force.
- A beta-stable nucleus may undergo other kinds of radioactive decay (for example, alpha decay).
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- Radioactive decay rate is exponential and is characterized by constants, such as half-life, as well the activity and number of particles.
- The decay rate of a radioactive substance is characterized by the following constant quantities:
- The mean lifetime (τ, "tau") is the average lifetime of a radioactive particle before decay.
- Total activity (A) is number of decays per unit time of a radioactive sample.
- Radioactivity is one very frequent example of exponential decay.
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- Gamma decay is a process of emission of gamma rays that accompanies other forms of radioactive decay, such as alpha and beta decay.
- Gamma rays from radioactive decay are defined as gamma rays no matter what their energy, so there is no lower limit to gamma energy derived from radioactive decay.
- Gamma decay accompanies other forms of decay, such as alpha and beta decay; gamma rays are produced after the other types of decay occur.
- Path of decay of Co-60 to Ni-60.
- Explain relationship between gamma decay and other forms of nuclear decay.
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- Radiometric dating is used to date materials using the decay rate of a radioactive isotope.
- In many cases, the daughter nuclide is radioactive, resulting in a decay chain.
- The mathematical expression that relates radioactive decay to geologic time is:
- Example of a radioactive decay chain from lead-212 (212Pb) to lead-208 (208Pb) .
- The final decay product, lead-208 (208Pb), is stable and can no longer undergo spontaneous radioactive decay.
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- Also, only four naturally occurring, radioactive odd-odd nuclides have a half-life greater than a billion years:
- During this process, the radionuclide is said to undergo radioactive decay.
- Radioactive decay results in the emission of gamma rays and/or subatomic particles such as alpha or beta particles, as shown in .
- Alpha decay is one type of radioactive decay.
- Many other types of decay are possible.
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- By virtue of its consequent radioactive decay, this compound can be used to explore the mechanism of chemical reactions by tracing the path that the radioisotope follows from reactants to products.
- In a tracer, this substituting atom is a radioactive isotope.
- This process is often called radioactive labeling.
- Radioactive decay is much more energetic than chemical reactions.
- There are two main ways in which radioactive tracers are used: