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When an unstable isotope gives off any kind of radioactive decay known as an alpha particle it is giving off?
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
It is giving off an Alpha particle. This is the nucleus of a helium atom, i.e. 2 protons and 2 neutrons (tightly bound together), without accompanying electrons.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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What is a parent isotope?
These terms apply to the decay of radionuclides. The parent isotope is 'the starting point' of a decay series that when it decays, by giving off radiation, changes into another element, or isotope of the original element (the daughter isotope). For example: When Uranium 238 (parent isotope) decays and gives off an alpha particle, it transmutes into Thorium 234 (the daughter isotope).
What term used to describe rate of radioactive isotopes?
Half-life (in units of time).Half-Life is the rate of radioactive decay, measured in time. The half life gives the time it take for half of the radioactive atoms in a system to decay. Fore example, if you have 10 grams of carbon-14, it will take 5730 years for half of it to decay, giving you 5 grams. In another 5730 years, you'll have 2.5 grams left, etc...Isotopes decay at an exponential rate. A half-life is the time that half of the population of an isotope will decay. The measure is a statistical probability and is more accurate when a large population is observed. The term half-life is applied to describe a property of a given isotope (i.e. the half-life of Carbon 14 is 5730).half life
What is unknown radioactive elements?
A radioactive element is the element which radiates continuously giving alpha, beta, and gamma rays. The elements having atomic no. more than 82 are mostly considered as radioactive elements. These elements emit radiations by themselves even if if they are not get touched. They are discovered by Maria Curie and Pierre Curie in 1907
What is the difference between an ion and an isotope?
an ion has a different number of electrons and an isotope has a different number of neutrons then listed on the Periodic Table or your sample
How can a neutral atom become a positively changed particle?
A neutral atom becomes a positive atom by losing an electron.
An isotope that disintegrates giving off rays of atomic particles is said to be?
radioactive
What is the chemical equation for an atom of radioactive uranium giving off an alpha particle to become thalium?
92U238 --------> 90Th234 + 2He4
Why do some nuclei found in nature give off alpha particles?
An element undergoing radioactive decay could expel an alpha particle from its nucleus. An alpha particle is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This could make it more stable by changing the ratio of protons to neutrons in its nucleus. Generally speaking, if the ratio of protons to neutrons is greater than 1:2.5, the nucleus is unstable, and you're probably dealing with a radionuclide.
What is stable elements?
Unstable elements are radioactive elements that spontaneously decay into other elements. Some are: Radon Uranium Plutonium See the related link for an article giving greater detail on isotope stability.
Is radioactive means giving off radio waves?
No radioactivity doesn't mean emitting radio waves. It means emmission of alpha & beta particle and gamma rays
What is a parent isotope?
These terms apply to the decay of radionuclides. The parent isotope is 'the starting point' of a decay series that when it decays, by giving off radiation, changes into another element, or isotope of the original element (the daughter isotope). For example: When Uranium 238 (parent isotope) decays and gives off an alpha particle, it transmutes into Thorium 234 (the daughter isotope).
An element that gives off nuclear radiation what?
Sounds to me like radiation from a radioactive isotope. The breaking down part would be the half-life. But the isotope won't completely break down. Only until it reaches a stable form. Such as, radium-226 decays finally to lead-206. During the process it emits charged Alpha particles.
What kind of nuclear reaction would result in the release of a beta particle?
Beta particle( electron having nuclear origin) is emitted when a neutron decays into a proton by giving out electron. The electron produced escapes as a beta particle leaving proton in the nucleus of atom. 0n1 --> 1p1 + -1e0 ( 1e0 is the emitted beta particle) here subscripts denote charge and superscript denote mass in atomic mass unit(amu). Such neutron decay are shown by some radioactive elements. Usually when the n/p (neutron/proton) ratio is higher than required nuclei emit beta particle. Many examples of this type of decay can be given like: 6c14 --> 7N14 + -1e0 (this carbon isotope is used in carbon dating). 90Th232 + 0n1 --> 90Th232 - -1e0 --> 91Pa233 - -1e0 --> 92U233 (this reaction is used in breeder reactors for production of fissile uranium isotope)
How do you know if a meteor is radioactive?
If it isn't giving off a glow, it might not be radioactive. It will glow because most, not all, radioactive material always glows.
Do atom get rid of their excess energy by giving off radioactive decay?
Yes, that's more or less what happens in the case of radioactive decay.
Radioactive means giving off radio waves?
No. Although that was the original logic in making up the term. Radioactivity now means that the "source" (the radioactive substance) emits (gives off) energy of some sort. Gama-rays are radiation of all types (i.e., a form of radio waves); but all the rest are particle emitters (alpha, beta, neutron, positron, etc)
What is the radioactive decay process of U 238?
The process of a radioactive decay is atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles
