Particles of radioactive emissions

Answer 1

Alpha particle - (helium nucleus) with a positive charge Beta particle (high speed electron) with a negative charge Gamma ray (electromagnetic radiation) with no charge Radio active decay occurs because the nucleus is unstable. It depends on the particular atom which decay path it will take. A stable atom normally has a few more neutrons than protons. If there are one or two extra neutrons, but not enough to make it stable, getting rid of two of each will slightly increase the proportion of neutrons making it just a little more stable. In this case ALPHA radiation is the result. This consists of helium nuclei with two protons and two neutrons. If there are too many neutrons, one can turn into a proton. When this happens an electron must come into existence by being ejected from the neutron. This is called BETA radiation. If there are too many protons, one of them can eject a positron (positively charged electron) and turn into a neutron. The positron will then very quickly unite with an electron. When this happens they annihilate each other and become very high energy photon (light particle/wave) called a GAMMA ray. This happens mostly in nuclear reactors or in bombs. An example of beta (electron emission) radiation is when Radium 225 loses an electron and turns into Actinium 225 (half life 14.8 days). An example of alpha radiation is when the resulting Actinium loses a helium nuclei or alpha particle to become Francium 221. (half life 10 days) During these processes, other particle called neutrinos are also formed just as they are in the sun. For more about particles check related links below