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It means that massive nuclei break apart.

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How do radioisotopes of an element differ feom other isotopes?

Radioisotopes are "radioactive isotopes"; they are not stable. Radioactive atoms will decay, or break apart into other atoms, by emitting an electron, or a neutron or a positron or an alpha particle (2 protons and two neutrons). The rate at which this happens is measured by the "half-life"; after one half-life, half of the atoms will have decayed. After another half-life, half of the remaining atoms will have decayed. Atoms with short half-lives are highly radioactive, and can be fairly dangerous. Atoms with long half-lives are only slightly radioactive, and aren't all that dangerous.


Radioactive decay can be affected by?

The rate of decay of a radioactive element cannot be influenced by any physical or chemical change. It is a rather constant phenomenon that appears to be independent of all others. The rate of decay is given by an element's half life, which is the amount of time for approximately half of the atoms to decay.


What is the radioactive decay law?

The rate of decay (activity) of a radioactive isotope is proportional to the number of atoms of the isotope present.


What is the source of radio activiy?

Radioactivity is caused by unstable atoms, that break apart.


What happens during radioactive decay?

The timing of radioactive decay is unpredictable. The causes of radioactive decay are instability of a nucleus and chance events. Examples of these chance events are collisions by subatomic particles, vacuum fluctuations, and the like - unpredictable.

Related Questions

What is An unstable isotope is called what?

It isn't really an ELEMENT that is unstable, but an ISOTOPE. That means that in general, for the same element, some atoms will decay, and some will not - the difference being the number of neutrons in the nucleus.


Is 288 is unstable or reactive atom?

The number 288 does not correspond to an atom as it is not a specific element. Atoms themselves are not considered stable or unstable, but certain isotopes of elements can be unstable and undergo radioactive decay.


How does radioactive decay occur?

A chemical element disintegrate forming a new element. Radioactive radiations (alpha, beta, gamma, etc.) are released, also heat. An unstable nucleus breaks down into smaller parts.


How do nuclear atoms differ from regular atoms?

All atoms are nuclear, in that they all have nuclei. Some atoms have unstable nuclei, making them radioactive. I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean by "nuclear atoms," unless you meant to say radioactive atoms, in which case the answer is "they have unstable nuclei and they're radioactive."


What does it mean if an element it radioactive?

this is because an element is sometimes never radioactive but one may be made just to be radioactive this is because an element is sometimes never radioactive but one may be made just to be radioactive


What are mass of unstable atoms?

The mass of unstable atoms can vary widely depending on the specific isotope and the decay process involved. Unstable atoms typically have a higher mass compared to stable atoms due to the presence of excess energy or additional subatomic particles. When unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay, they can transform into more stable elements by emitting particles and energy.


What is isotope and radio isotope?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. Radioisotopes are isotopes that are unstable and undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation in the process. They are commonly used in medicine, industry, and research.


What happens during radiocative decay?

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This emission helps the nucleus become more stable by transforming it into a different element. The rate at which radioactive decay occurs is measured by the half-life of the unstable nucleus, which is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.


Isotopes with unstable nuclei are?

Isotopes with unstable nuclei are radioactive and can undergo radioactive decay to achieve a more stable state. This decay process involves the release of radiation such as alpha or beta particles. The unstable isotopes are often used in various applications, including medicine and energy production.


Why does radioactivity occur in some elements?

It occurs due to the instability of the element. It is a spontaneous process. Radioactive atoms are known as isotopes.


Do stable atoms release nuclear particles?

No. If they did, they would be radioactive and unstable.


What is it called when atoms are unstable and undergo a nuclear decay?

radioactive decay