0
What is the process in which an unstable nucleus loses energy spontaneously?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Particles or electromagnetic radiation are emitted.
Gonzalo Abernathy
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWhen an unstable nucleus decays it goes through one of the following processes:
- Alpha decay - a helium nucleus is ejected reducing the element number by 2 and the mass number by 4.
- Beta decay - a neutron decays to a proton, electron, and a neutrino. The electron and neutrino are ejected increasing the element number by 1 and leaving the mass number constant.
- Gamma decay - the protons and neutrons in the nucleus rearrange themselves into a lower energy state and a gamma ray photon is ejected to remove the excess energy. Neither the element or mass numbers change.
- Fission - certain transient metastable isotopes (e.g. U236 produced by U235 capturing a neutron) can split into two smaller nuclei and eject 2 or more neutrons. Note: Fission is not usually considered a decay process.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAn unstable nucleus releases energy by emitting radiation during the process of radioactive decay.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoRadioactive decay. Usually a beta release / capture or alpha emission occurs also.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agothat is either called nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, i forget which
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoRadioactive Decay
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoRadioactive decay.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoNuclear explosions
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Chemical reactions that energy often occur spontaneously?
endothermic: or energy absorbing reactions
Why is a larger nucleus not as stable as a smaller nucleus?
A smaller nucleus is generally more stable. Below are some general rules: # (Except for really small nuclei) All stable nuclei contain a number of neutrons that is equal to or greater than the number of protons. # Nuclei with too few or too many neutrons is unstable. # If a nuclei has even numbers of nucleons, it's generally more stable. # Nuclei with "magic numbers" usually tend to be more stable.
Why electrons near the nucleus having less energy as that of higher shells?
That's actually not quite how it works, you're probably going by an outdated model of the atom. It is true that the probability of finding the electron at a larger distance from the nucleus tends to be larger for electrons with higher energy... the reason why should be fairly obvious: they have more energy to overcome the electromagnetic attraction between the (negative) electron and the (positive) nucleus.
What type of energy is released when one element decays into other elements?
This would be radioactivity in which alpha or beta particles are released. The nucleus concerned decays into another nucleus with lower energy, resulting in ejection of the particle which has kinetic energy, until it is absorbed into some other material which will happen quite quickly. See the link below for more discussion of the energy changes
What represents a beta particle?
0/-1 e
What is the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles or energy or both?
It is the process of Radioactivity.
What is a nucleus that emits energy and particles spontaneously?
Any radioactive element gives off subatomic particles, and these particles carry considerable energy. That is the definition of radioactivity. Examples of radioactive elements include uranium, plutonium, polonium, radium, and many more.
What process is a radioactive decay?
The process of a radioactive decay is atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles
What it means when an element is radioactive?
Radioactive elements have unstable nucleii. When an unstable nucleus decays it emits energy in the form of electromagnetic waves and heavy particles and in the process forms new nucleii.
Nuclear radiation refers to charged particles or energy emitted by an unstable what?
Nucleus
An unstable isotope with extra energy in the nucleus?
A radio-isotope.
What is the source of the alpha decay?
Alpha decay is a nuclear process where a 4He nucleus is spontaneously emitted to reduce energy and lower the initial isotopes total number of nucleons.
A penetrating ray of energy emitted by an unstable nucleus?
Gamma rays.
What does the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles or energy or both?
In the process of radioactive decay an unstable atomic nucleus emits energy to get closer to a state of stability. Whether this energy is emitted in particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both depends on which decay paths are available to the nucleus and which decay paths are forbidden to the nucleus by Quantum Mechanics.Some of the decay processes are:alpha - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected alpha particle (helium nucleus)beta - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected electron or positron (and the hard to detect neutrino)gamma - energy is released as electromagnetic radiation (gamma ray photon)spontaneous fission - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected fission product atoms and the ejected neutrons
What is the definition of a radioisotpoe?
A radioisotope is an atom that has an unstable nucleus characterized by excess energy.
What does being radioactive mean?
Exhibiting or caused by radioactivity.Radioactivity: the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay.Examples are radioactive isotopes [an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay], radioactive dating [the process by which the approximate age of an object is determined based on the amount of certain radioactive nuclides present], and radioactive decay [the spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter and more stable nucleus, accompanied by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both.]
Process by which unstable nuclei lose energy?
Radioactive decay
