After
reading this section you will be able to do the following:
Describe
radioactive decay and transmutation.
Discuss
the two forms of radiation that can be released due to radioactive
decay.
What is radioactive
decay?
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous
breakdown of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of energy
and matter from the nucleus. Remember that a radioisotope has
unstable nuclei that does not have enough binding energy to hold
the nucleus together. Radioisotopes would like to be stable isotopes
so they are constantly changing to try and stabilize. In the process,
they will release energy and matter from their nucleus and often
transform into a new element. This process, called transmutation,
is the change of one element into another as a result of changes
within the nucleus. The radioactive decay and transmutation process
will continue until a new element is formed that has a stable
nucleus and is not radioactive. Transmutation can occur naturally
or by artificial means.
Take this link to learn about the
two forms of nuclear radiation:
As an
unstable atom tries to reach a stable form, energy and matter
are released from the nucleus. This spontaneous change in the
nucleus is called radioactive decay.
When there
is a change in the nucleus and one element changes into another,
it is called transmutation.
