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How many decay events can an atom undergo while remaining the same element?

An atom can undergo an infinite number of decay events while remaining the same element as long as it does not change its atomic number. For example, isotopes of an element can undergo decay processes like alpha or beta decay, yet still be classified as the same element if they retain the same number of protons. However, once the atomic number changes through decay, the atom transforms into a different element.


Why don't the man made radioactive elements exist for very long?

Man-made radioactive elements, or synthetic isotopes, have short half-lives due to their unstable nuclei, which decay rapidly to achieve a more stable state. This instability arises from an imbalance in the number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus. As a result, these elements undergo radioactive decay processes, such as alpha or beta decay, leading to their transformation into other elements or isotopes over relatively short timescales. Consequently, they do not persist in the environment for long periods.


How does fission and fusion differ from alpha and beta decay?

Beta- decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton and the release of an electron and an electron antineutrino.Beta+ decay involves the conversion of a proton into a neutron, sometimes by K capture, and the release of a positron and an electron neutrino.Fusion involves the combining of two relatively light nuclei into one.Alpha decay and fission are somewhat related...Fission involves the separation of one relatively heavy nucleus into two or more.Alpha decay is fission wherein the split off nucleus is a helium nucleus.Any of these processes can leave the nucleus or the electron cloud in an excited state. When it comes back down to ground state, a gamma (nucleus) or x-ray (electron cloud) photon is emitted. This usually occurs nearly instantaneously, within about 1 x 10-12 seconds, but sometimes, in what we call a metastable state, this return to ground state is delayed, occasionally for a long time.


Three products of radioactive decay from most penetrating to least?

Gamma rays: Highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation that can travel long distances through materials. Beta particles: High-speed electrons or positrons that can penetrate a few millimeters of material. Alpha particles: Heavier particles consisting of two protons and two neutrons, which are stopped by a few centimeters of air or a piece of paper.


How long did it take Marie curie to discover radium and polonium?

Marie Curie, along with her husband Pierre Curie, discovered radium and polonium in 1898. It took them several years of dedicated research and experiments to isolate and characterize these new elements.

Related Questions

What is the product of alpha decay for americium -241?

The intermediate product is neptunium 237 ( a very long-lived radioisotope).


How long do typical commercial radioactive alpha-particle sources last?

they last for about 2 minutes


How long do atoms last in the context of nuclear decay and radioactive decay processes?

Atoms can last for varying amounts of time in the context of nuclear and radioactive decay processes. Some atoms can last for billions of years, while others may decay in a fraction of a second. The duration of an atom's existence depends on its specific properties and the type of decay it undergoes.


How long did it take to discover polonium?

Polonium was discovered during the years 1897-1898.


Does uranium decay to lead in one step?

No, it's a long chain. The decay sequence is: Uranium-238 to thorium-234 to protactinium-234 to Uranium-234 to thorium-230 to radium-226 to radon-222 to polonium-218 to lead-214 to bismuth-214 to polonium-214 to lead-210 to bismuth-210 to polonium-210 to lead-206 which is its final stable form. Radioactive decay occurs when an unstable (radioactive) isotope transforms to a more stable isotope, generally by emitting a subatomic particle such as an alpha or beta particle (helium nucleus or electron). The half-life of one of the elements above can be shorter than a millisecond (Po-214) or as long as 4.5 billion years (U-238).


How was polonium isolated?

Natural polonium was isolated from residues resulted after the extraction of uranium from ores; the process is long and tedious. Today polonium is obtained artificially.


How long does it take element 118 to decay into element 116?

Element 118 (Oganesson) is a superheavy element that is highly unstable and decays very quickly, within a fraction of a millisecond, into element 116 (Livermorium) through alpha decay.


How many decay events can an atom undergo while remaining the same element?

An atom can undergo an infinite number of decay events while remaining the same element as long as it does not change its atomic number. For example, isotopes of an element can undergo decay processes like alpha or beta decay, yet still be classified as the same element if they retain the same number of protons. However, once the atomic number changes through decay, the atom transforms into a different element.


Americium-241 is used in some smoke detectors It is an alpha emitter with a half-life of 432 How long will it take in years for 31.0 of an Am-241 sample to decay?

To calculate the time it takes for 31.0 g of Am-241 to decay, you can use the radioactive decay formula. First, find the decay constant (λ) by ln(2) / half-life. Once you have the decay constant, you can use the formula N(t) = N0 * e^(-λt), where N(t) is the remaining amount of the isotope, N0 is the initial amount, and t is the time. Solve for t to find how long it will take for 31.0 g of Am-241 to decay.


What is the nuclear decay equation for cesium-137?

The equation for the beta decay of 60Co is: 2760Co --> 2860Ni + -10e where the -10e is a negative beta particle or electron.


How do you do the alpha test on aqworlds?

You play during the alpha phase, which has long passed.


What is the decay product of uranium-238?

U-238 is the most abundant (99.3%) of the three naturally occurring isotopes of Uranium. The other two are U-235 and U-234.U-238 decays spontaneously to Thorium-234 by alpha particle emission. This decays by beta decay to Protactinium-234 and then that undergoes beta decay to become U-234.There are many more decay steps by alpha and beta emission. The end result is Lead-206 which is stable.The full path can be found in the Argonne National Laboratories Human Health Fact Sheet, August 2005, titled Natural Decay Series: Uranium, Radium, and ThoriumThis is found at:http://www.ead.anl.gov/pub/doc/natural-decay-series.pdf