What does uranium become when it decays?

Answer 1

If we use uranium-238 as our starter isotope, what happens is that a nuclear decay event happens (in this case an alpha decay) and the U-238 transforms into a daughter isotope thorium (Th-234). The half-life of this transition is 4.5 billion years. Thorium-234 then undergoes a decay. And the process continues until a stable isotope is created as the last daughter of a decay chain. Note that there will be different half lives for the transition events, and the modes of decay will vary depending on what daughter is now the parent in the next decay event. Use the link below to see all the steps. The chart will show the whole chain including the half-life of isotope undergoing decay, the decay mode, and the daughter. Follow along using the keys and the process will reveal itself.

Answer 2

When uranium undergoes radioactive decay, it produces a daughter isotope called thorium. Thorium itself is also a radioactive element and can continue to decay into other isotopes through a series of decay processes.

Answer 3

What type of uranium? There are different varieties, technically called "isotopes". For chemical reactions, they may be considered the same "type of atom"; for nuclear reactions, not.

Ultimately lead, along the way it decays to every element between uranium and lead. However details of the specific decay series depend on the original uranium isotope(s).

BTW, all uranium is radioactive... there is no non-radioactive uranium.

Answer 4

1. Uranium 238 is transformed in thorium 234 by alpha decay.

2. Uranium 235 is transformed in thorium 231 by alpha decay.

3. Uranium 234 is transformed in thorium 230 by alpha decay.

Answer 5

1. Used in nuclear weapons: uranium and fission products are dispersed in the environment. Also for depleted uranium in projectiles.

2. Uranium in nuclear reactors: uranium is "burned" and the irradiated uranium can be recycled to extract uranium, plutonium and many useful radioisotopes.

Answer 6

Uranium 238 is transformed in the stable isotope Pb -206.

Answer 7

Because uranium is a radioactive unstable element; the stability of the nucleus depends on the proportion between protons and neutrons.

Answer 8

Uranium decay down stable lead isotopes during a long radioactive chain and a very long period.

Answer 9

The end product of the radioactive decay of uranium is a non-radioactive lead isotope.

Answer 10

The final products of the uranium isotopes decay chain are stable lead isotopes.