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A fundamental property of radioactive material is that the atomic nucleus has an unstable configuration. The nucleus of a single atom of such material may break down at any instant, or may never break down at all, but with a large number of atoms in a collection, there is a statistical probability that half of them will break down in a given amount of time, which is known as the "half life" for that radioactive material. Exactly why this should be so is a mystery which cannot be adequately explained, but is observed and accepted as such. A deeper understanding of this phenomenon would probably give us a better insight into the true nature of the universe as a whole.

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Isotopes which have unstable nucleus and break down at a constant rate over time?

radioactive isotopes! :)


The nucleus of a radioactive element does not break down and give off particles and energy?

false


Would exposure to something which is radioactive make you radioactive?

Not much. There are various forms of radioactivity. A material can emit alpha particles, beta particles (high energy electrons), neutrons, gamma rays (high energy photos), or you can ingest it. If you eat, breathe or inject a radioactive material, it will be inside you and you will become "radioactive" in that you will emit particles or radiation. This is how PET works - the doctor injects a short-lived isotope and tracks the positrons emitted by them with a detector, so can track, say, the uptake of glucose in your brain. If you sit on a lump of radioactive material, the radiation will damage your skin and body to an extent depending on the intensity and type of radiation. If an emitted particle changes an atom in your body to an unstable isotope, this will later decay by emitting a particle itself. In this sense you will have been made "radioactive". This is I believe very unlikely - the side effects of radiation damage would kill you long before you had become significantly radioactive just from contact. A particle is more likely to break chemical bonds and create free radicals than to create a new isotope.


Decomposers are helpful to the food chain because?

Decomposers are important because they break up waste and dead material.


What will happen after some time when the empty flask was heated over the burner?

nothing , after a while the flask material will break down

Related Questions

The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope.?

its called Half-Time...


What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?

halflife


What is the time needed for half of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotope?

It's called "half life".


Is the process of abosolute dating using radioactive elements error proof?

No, the process of absolute dating using radioactive elements is not error-proof. It is subject to potential errors due to factors like contamination, mixing of materials, and loss of parent or daughter isotopes. These factors can affect the accuracy of the age determination.


When radioactive isotopes break down into other elements the process is called?

radioactive decay


How does parent material affect soil texture?

Parent material influences soil formation through the process of weathering and then through the influence of the weathered material on soil processes. It provides the skeleton for the soil's texture through its main structure.


What does the sign radioactive mean?

The radioactive warning sign means that a source of radiation, or of radioactive material, is on the other side and should not be approached without using appropriate precautions.


Isotopes which have unstable nucleus and break down at a constant rate over time?

radioactive isotopes! :)


What happens if the parent material is resistant to weathering?

If the parent material is resistant to weathering, it will break down at a slower rate compared to more easily weathered materials. This can lead to the formation of soils with higher mineral content. However, prolonged resistance to weathering can limit soil formation and fertility in the long term.


Can ice break down a material?

Yes if that material is softer than the ice it will break


Which are unstable elements that decay or break down into different elements?

Radioactive


Can a parent really break up a child's relationship?

No he can not break up any relation. The parent is responsible for their children so if the relationship the child is in is not appropriate then the parent has every right to put a stop to it.