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A radio-isotope.

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Q: An unstable isotope with extra energy in the nucleus?
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Why radioactive elements are unstable?

The radioactive elements are unstable due to extra excitement in their nucleus. The nucleons i.e. the protons and the neutrons are affected by various interactions inside the nucleus like the strong nuclear force and the electrostatic forces and other factors as well. All these factors result in a high excited stage. Hence, the high excitement nucleus tries to get a state of low energy or excitement. Thus, the radioactive nuclei decay by either Alpha decay or Beta decay and further go to low energy state by radiating energy in the form of Gamma radiations.


How does the strong nucleus force hold the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.


How does a nucleus get rid of extra energy after beta decay?

It emits photons of varying energy, energy representing the amount of energy required to step down from the nucleus' excited state to either the ground state or to an intermediate state. These photons are called gamma rays.


What is the breakdown of a radioactive isotope into a stable isotope?

it must eject the extra nucleons and should be conveted into a stable isotope.


What kinds of changes to a nucleus occur for each kind of nuclear decay?

In alpha decay, the nucleus loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This causes the atomic number to decrease by 2, thus a new element is formed. The mass also changes by 4. Extra energy is also released as gamma radiation. In beta decay, one neutron in the nucleus changes into a proton and the nucleus emits a beta particle (the electron). Also gamma rays may be released calling away extra energy. The nucleus now has 2 more proton so the atomic number increases by 1 and again a new different element has been formed. The mass number of the isotope is still the same.

Related questions

Why radioactive elements are unstable?

The radioactive elements are unstable due to extra excitement in their nucleus. The nucleons i.e. the protons and the neutrons are affected by various interactions inside the nucleus like the strong nuclear force and the electrostatic forces and other factors as well. All these factors result in a high excited stage. Hence, the high excitement nucleus tries to get a state of low energy or excitement. Thus, the radioactive nuclei decay by either Alpha decay or Beta decay and further go to low energy state by radiating energy in the form of Gamma radiations.


How does the strong nucleus force hold the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.


How does the strong nuclear holds the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.


How does the nuclear force hold the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.


What is the breakdown of a radioactive isotope into a stable isotope?

it must eject the extra nucleons and should be conveted into a stable isotope.


How does a nucleus get rid of extra energy after beta decay?

It emits photons of varying energy, energy representing the amount of energy required to step down from the nucleus' excited state to either the ground state or to an intermediate state. These photons are called gamma rays.


What kinds of changes to a nucleus occur for each kind of nuclear decay?

In alpha decay, the nucleus loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This causes the atomic number to decrease by 2, thus a new element is formed. The mass also changes by 4. Extra energy is also released as gamma radiation. In beta decay, one neutron in the nucleus changes into a proton and the nucleus emits a beta particle (the electron). Also gamma rays may be released calling away extra energy. The nucleus now has 2 more proton so the atomic number increases by 1 and again a new different element has been formed. The mass number of the isotope is still the same.


Why are there extra neutrons produced in nuclear fission?

Because usually during nuclear fission the nucleas is being split by colliding with a another unstable particle like a neutron, and in this case absorbing the neutron to become a more unstable nucleaus with a higher mass, for instance uranium 235 colliding with a neutron and becoming a unstable 236 neutron. After this the uranium 236 splits apart and becomes to separate nuclea and in the process neutrons are released, as gamma radiation. This produces a massive amount of energy because the energy that has bound the protons together in the nucleus, ( protons repel each other) is very strong, so the potential energy in that state is massive. And once released...well. BOOM


How does the strong nuclear force hold the nuclear of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.


Do an isotope have extra electrons or protons?

protons


How does radioactive decay occur?

A chemical element disintegrate forming a new element. Radioactive radiations (alpha, beta, gamma, etc.) are released, also heat. An unstable nucleus breaks down into smaller parts.


What is radioactive decay in your own words?

It is when an atom's nucleus contains too many neutrons and becomes too unstable. Thus, the nucleus "wants" to become more stable and thus splits into two lighter nuclei. To get rid of the extra neutrons that were making the atom unstable, when the atom splits apart, these neutrons are ejected outwards. The two split nuclei become two separate, more stable atoms.