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Nuclear instability (meaning instability of the nucleus of an atom) causes radioactive decay. This is a very complicated process, involving many subatomic particles (both fermions and bosons).

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What causes nuclear decay?

The instability of the nuclei is the basic cause of radioactive decay.


What causes heat in center of earth?

Radioactive Decay


What king of decay causes geothermal heat?

radioactive


What is the source of heat in the Earth interior?

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

radioactive decay


How is the radioactive decay of Krypton different from the radioactive decay of Americium?

The radioactive decay of americium 241 is by alpha disintegration; the disintegration of radioactive krypton isotopes is by beta particles emission.


What term indicates the process in which unstable nuclide release radiation?

If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.


What type of radioactive decay causes the radionuclide to become an element with a higher atomic number?

Alpha decay is the type of radioactive decay that causes the radionuclide to become an element with a higher atomic number. In alpha decay, the radionuclide emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, resulting in the formation of a new element with a higher atomic number.


What is lost during radioactive decay?

Decay energy is the energy that has been freed during radioactive decay. When radioactive decay is ongoing it drops off some energy by means of discharging radiation.


What are advantages of radioactive decay?

One reason is that radioactive decay heats the earths interior


Why are radioisotopes unstable and prone to undergo radioactive decay?

Radioisotopes are unstable because they have an imbalance of protons and neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This imbalance causes them to be prone to undergo radioactive decay in order to achieve a more stable configuration.


Radioactive decay do not involve electrons?

That statement is not entirely accurate. Radioactive decay can involve the emission of alpha particles, beta particles (electrons or positrons), and gamma rays. Electrons can be involved in certain types of radioactive decay processes.