What is the purpose of nuclear decay?

Answer 1

nuclear decay is when the nucleus of an atom is broken apart. because the number of protons has changed, so has the element. this usually happens with large nuclei, which tend to be more unstable (radioactive) than smaller nuclei.

Answer 2

Nuclear Decay is the process where a radioactive (unstable) element changes state, emitting various particles (electrons, protons, neutrons, photons) in an attempt to reach a stable state. Often, there is more than one step involved.

Answer 3

The nucleus always ends up in a lower energy state, this is required by the law of conservation of energy and the rules of quantum mechanics. The atom sometimes (but not always) changes to that of a different element.

Answer 4

the main types are alpha decay in which an alpha particle (made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons) is emitted, beta decay (the emission of a beta particle such as an electron), and gamma decay in which a high-energy gamma photon is emitted

Answer 5

Radioactive decay is the emission of radioactive particles and the resulting change into other isotopes overtime.

Or to put is simply - which is what you asked for - radioactive particles decay at a known rate, which is different for all kinds of radioactive elements. The rate of particle decay is known as "half-life". That's how long it takes for 1/2 of those particles to decay to a harmless state. Half-life for different radioactive particles can vary from a few thousandths of a second, to many millions of years. Iodine 131 has a half-life of eight days. Radium has a half-life of 1600 years. And so on.

Answer 6

The importance of nuclear decay deals mainly in the health and medical department. Radioactivity, the process which unstable nuclei use to achieve a more stable situation, provides a useful tool in diagnosing and treating many diseases. Nuclear medicine, radioactivity in action, can be used in procedures that deal with scanning. Scanning allows doctors to see fractures in bones, diagnose a possible spread of cancer within the bones, detect blood clots and much more.

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Answer 7

Is the spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter nucleus, accompanied by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both.

Answer 8

Enayet is an example of radioactive decay Enayet is an example of radioactive decay

Answer 9

It can take from 25-25 million years for nuclear waste to decay.