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First, I need to define what an isotope is. An isotope of an element has the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. So, for example, Carbon-12 has 6 protons (which is why its atomic number on the table of elements is 6), and 6 neutrons. Carbon-14 also has 6 protons, but 8 neutrons. A radioactive isotope, or radioisotope, is one that is unstable and decays over time into another isotope or even another element that has a stable configuration.
Carbon-14 is what they use in "Carbon dating"; it has a half-life of 5,730 years. This means that if you had 10 pounds of carbon-14, at the end of 5,730 years, roughly half of it will have decayed into nitrogen-14. Some elements have an extremely long half-life; Uranium-235 has a half-life of 700 million years. Others have a half-life measured in a fraction of a second, like the man-made element Ununnilium-272, which has a half-life of only 10 milliseconds. For comparison, it takes 300 to 400 milliseconds to blink. This means Uun-272 has a half-life that is 30 to 40 times faster than a single blink!
At this point I could go into even more detail about the different types of radioactive decay (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-), which types of decay are dangerous to human life, and so on; but this is supposed to be an answer, not a chemistry book! I will, however, point out that the average American absorbs 360 mrem's of radiation per year. Your chance of dying from cancer increases 10% if you accumulate a total of 250,000 mrems - which means you'd have to live about 695 years to accumulate that much radiation! Not much to worry about...
Most elements, but not all, have at least one radioisotope.
All elements with an atomic number of 80 or higher have at least one radioisotope.
All isotopes of elements with an atomic number of 84 or higher are radioisotopes.
Therefore, Mercury (atomic number 80) is not normally radioactive, but some isotopes of it (Hg-194, Hg-197, Hg-203, and Hg-206) are radioactive; while all isotopes of Polonium (atomic number 84) are radioactive.
The total number of elements that have NO stable isotopes, including naturally-occurring and man-made elements, is about 37. If you add elements with naturally-occurring radioisotopes, that number will be significantly higher. (Carbon-14, for example, is naturally occurring.)
What else can I help you with?
What nuclear process occurred when light elements combine to form heavier elements?
Nuclear Fusion
What is the type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements?
The type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements is nuclear fusion. This process involves combining atomic nuclei to create new, heavier elements. In a controlled environment such as a nuclear reactor, scientists can create synthetic elements that do not occur naturally on Earth.
How do you combine elements to make other elements?
nuclear fusion
What is trans-uranium?
Trans-uranium elements are synthetic elements with atomic numbers greater than uranium (92). These elements are produced in laboratories through nuclear reactions and are typically radioactive with short half-lives. Many trans-uranium elements are involved in research and nuclear applications.
How many elements on a periodic table do not occur on earth?
There are about 30 elements on the periodic table that do not occur naturally on Earth, known as synthetic elements. These elements are created in laboratories through nuclear reactions.
What nuclear process occurred when light elements combine to form heavier elements?
Nuclear Fusion
What elements have relatively small nuclear binding energy per nuclear particle?
Elements with relatively small nuclear binding energy per nuclear particle include elements with high atomic number (e.g. transuranium elements) and elements with unstable isotopes. These elements require more energy to hold their nucleus together, resulting in smaller binding energy per nuclear particle.
How many approximately elements in nature?
There are about 118 different elements that are currently included in the Periodic Table. There have also been elements that have been found in nuclear and laboratories accelerators.
What is the type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements?
The type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements is nuclear fusion. This process involves combining atomic nuclei to create new, heavier elements. In a controlled environment such as a nuclear reactor, scientists can create synthetic elements that do not occur naturally on Earth.
How do you combine elements to make other elements?
nuclear fusion
What is trans-uranium?
Trans-uranium elements are synthetic elements with atomic numbers greater than uranium (92). These elements are produced in laboratories through nuclear reactions and are typically radioactive with short half-lives. Many trans-uranium elements are involved in research and nuclear applications.
What elements can be used in nuclear power plants?
Uranium and plutonium are the most commonly used elements in nuclear power plants. These elements undergo nuclear fission, releasing energy in the form of heat, which is then used to produce electricity.
What elements form through nuclear fusion?
With the exceptions of the lighter elements of hydrogen (H) and helium (He), nearly all of the known elements were created by, or as a byproduct of, nuclear fusion.
Where are synhetic elements made from?
Synthetic elements are obtained by nuclear reactions.
How many elements on a periodic table do not occur on earth?
There are about 30 elements on the periodic table that do not occur naturally on Earth, known as synthetic elements. These elements are created in laboratories through nuclear reactions.
What is a radioactive nuclear fuel?
All nuclear fuels contain radioactive elements.
Compare the role of nuclear fusion in the formation of Earth's naturally occurring elements and in the creation of synthetic elements in the laboratory?
Creation of synthetic elements in the laboratory is not based on nuclear fusion.
