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It means that massive nuclei break apart.
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∙ 8y ago
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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.
What are mass of unstable atoms?
Unstable atoms are said to be radioactive
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.
What must occur before a radioactive atoms ceases to undergo further radioactive decay?
A stable, nonradioactive atom must be formed.
Isotopes with unstable nuclei are?
Unstable Isotopes will degrade through radioactive decay into other types of atoms. To break it down Unstable isotopes are those whose moleules break down to form new atoms and ions.
What makes a nucleus radioactive?
If you are referring to a cell's nucleus than the simple answer is that's not radioactive. Radioactivity occurs when elemental atoms become unstable due to the loss or gain of additional neutrons; these unstable atoms are referred to as radioactive isotopes. If a cell's nucleus were radioactive it would not last very long, its structure and function would quickly degrade and collapse.
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."
Atoms that are unstable are more likely to be what than atoms that are stable?
radioisotopes
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.
Will the radioactive property remain in an ionic compound when a metal element is highly radioactive combined with a non-metal element which is non-radioactive?
A radioactive material is radioactive. Period. The atoms of radioactive material have unstable nuclei. If you combine them with other material, the radioactive material will remain unaffected as regards its radioactivity. Recall that radioactivity is related to the instability of atomic nuclei, and the atomic structure of atomic nuclei are (in general) not involved in chemical bonding. Chemical bonding doesn't affect the stability of the nuclei of atoms. If they are unstable, they will remain so whether the atoms are alone or chemically combined with something else.
What is isotope and radio isotope?
Isotopes are atoms of a particular element with different numbers of neutrons. A radio isotope is an isotope that is radioactive because the nucleus is unstable.
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.
What is a radioactive atoms?
A radioactive atom is an atom that has an unstable nuclear force, and therefore either absorbs or emits a radioactive particle.
