Radioactive elements are just like the other elements. They are made of neutrons, protons, and electrons. The only real difference is that they radiate matter in the form of Alpha particles (Helium nuclei, more specifically the Helium isotope with an Atomic Mass of four [2 Protons, 2 Neutrons]), Beta positive (positrons), and Beta negative (electrons) particles. An atom emits an Alpha particle when the ratio of neutrons to protons in its nucleus is too low. This eventually stabilizes the atom, causing it to become a smaller element. Alpha radiation/emission has the highest ionizing strength of the two forms of particle emission, but also does the worst at penetration, being possible to stop with a mere sheet of paper. Beta radiation/emission occurs when an atom has an excess of a particular nucleonic particle. Positive Beta emission occurs when an atom has an excess protons. It resolves this problem by turning the extra protons into neutrons by means of emitting a positron (the polar opposite of an electron) and an electron-type neutrino. Negative Beta emission occurs when an atom has an excess of neutrons. It solves this by converting the extra neutrons into protons. In doing this, it emits an electron (the polar opposite of an electron) and an electron-type anti-neutrino. Beta radiation doesn't have as strong an ionizing power as Alpha radiation, but it has a greater penetrating strength, requiring that a minimum of a sheet of aluminum be used to prevent it from going to someplace unwanted. Then, there are really dangerous radioactive atoms. The kind that emit Gamma rays. Gamma rays radiate from atoms when they make a dramatic shift in energy states in an incredibly short amount of time by emitting photons. Gamma radiation has the highest ionizing power of all forms of radiation and also has the strongest penetrating force, so strong that not even a whole wall of lead can stop it, just weaken it.
All radioactive isotopes will disintegrate.
Some examples are deuterium and tritium which are radioactive isotopes of hydrogen.
No, Barium has both stable and radioactive isotopes. Out of its 25 known isotopes, only 6 of them are considered radioactive. The most stable isotope of Barium is Barium-138, which is not radioactive.
Zirconium does have radioactive isotopes, but the main ones used in industry are not radioactive.
Yes, radioactive isotopes are largely used for the treatment of cancer.
Not all isotopes are radioactive; the radioactive isotopes are unstable and emit radiations.
Both isotopes and radioactive isotopes are pretty much the same but radioactive isotopes are better because it can be used to make medicine.
Sodium has no radioactive isotopes.
Radioactive isotopes are not stable.
All the uranium isotopes are radioactive.
All radioactive isotopes will disintegrate.
All isotopes of francium are radioactive.
radioactive isotopes! :)
Some examples are deuterium and tritium which are radioactive isotopes of hydrogen.
No, Barium has both stable and radioactive isotopes. Out of its 25 known isotopes, only 6 of them are considered radioactive. The most stable isotope of Barium is Barium-138, which is not radioactive.
Not all of the transition elements are radioactive. Many of them are, and some of them have common radioactive isotopes, but some of them have no naturally occurring radioactive isotopes. Please note that all elements have synthetic radioactive isotopes, at least.
Silver itself is not radioactive. However, certain isotopes of silver can be radioactive. For example, silver-108 and silver-110 are radioactive isotopes with long half-lives that can undergo radioactive decay. These isotopes are not commonly found in nature.