RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOISOTOPES

After reading this section you will be able to do the following:

• Define radioactivity and explain how it is produced.
• Explain how a radioisotope differs from an isotope.

What is radioactivity?

Atoms with unstable nuclei are constantly changing as a result of the imbalance of energy within the nucleus. When the nucleus loses a neutron, it gives off energy and is said to be radioactive. Radioactivity is the release of energy and matter that results from changes in the nucleus of an atom.

What is a radioisotope?

On an earlier page covering isotopes is was learned that isotopes are atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons. In other words, the atoms have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus. Because the like charges of the protons repel each other,there are always forces trying to push the atom nucleus apart. The nucleus is held together by something called the binding energy.

In most cases, elements like to have an equal number of protons and neutrons because this makes them the most stable. Stable atoms have a binding energy that is strong enough to hold the protons and neutrons together. Even if an atom has an additional neutron or two it may remain stable. However, an additional neutron or two may upset the binding energy and cause the atom to become unstable. In an unstable atom, the nucleus changes by giving off a neutron to get back to a balanced state. As the unstable nucleus changes, it gives off radiation and is said to be radioactive. Radioactive isotopes are often called radioisotopes.

All elements with atomic numbers greater than 83 are radioisotopes meaning that these elements have unstable nuclei and are radioactive. Elements with atomic numbers of 83 and less, have isotopes (stable nucleus) and most have at least one radioisotope (unstable nucleus). As a radioisotope tries to stabilize, it may transform into a new element in a process called transmutation. We will talk about transmutation in more detail a little later.

Review:

1. Radioactivity is the release of energy and matter due to a change in the nucleus of an atom.
2. Radioisotopes are isotopes that are unstable and release radiation. All isotopes are not radioisotopes.
3. Transmutation occurs when a radioactive element attempts to become stabilized and transforms into a new element.