Difference between a non-radioactive substance and a radioactive substance?

Answer 1

Radioactive elements are unstable and will decay into other elements in a decay chain.

Non-radioactive elements are stable and won't commence into radioactive decay.

Radioactive elements can be found from atomic number 84 onwards.

Answer 2

AnswerA radioactive element is simply an element that emits radiation due to instability in it's nucleus. AnswerAll elements have radioactive isotopes. Tritium is hydrogen-3, which is radioactive and is found throughout nature. Carbon-14 is well known. Potassium-40 probably is the greatest source of beta radiation for most people, and is abundant throughout nature.

Answer 3

Radioactive elements undergo spontaneous transformations to other elements at a measurable rate, while non-radioactive elements never change into other elements without external energy inputs.

Answer 4

Quickly put, a radioactive element is an element (from the Periodic Table) that emits radiation.

There are two types of radiation, electromagnetic and particle. Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves (or photons, depending on the approach you are taking) from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, visible light, infrared light, Ultra-violet, x-rays, gamma rays, radio waves etc.

Particle radiation consists of freely traveling sub-atomic particles like protons, neutrons and electrons.

Radioactive elements are unstable elements due to being either too heavy or by having what you could call a imbalance of sub-atomic particles. These elements stabilise themselves by shedding (radiating) excess 'weight' (ie particles) to become lighter and more stable, in other words, by emitting particle 'radiation'. Some also emit electromagnetic radiation at the same time; this is basically the element shedding excess energy in the form of electromagnetic waves.

You can find out more delightful (horrible) detail by reading up on radioactive decay.

Answer 5

Radioactive substances are unstable as a result of the extra neutrons in their nuclei.

Non radioactive substances are stable.

Answer 6

Radioisotope is just an abbreviation of radioactive isotope. It means the same thing.