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.
Gamma radiation comes from the nuclei of atoms, usually as a result of nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. It is the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation and can be produced by processes such as nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or from certain types of radioactive decay.
A large radioactive atom breaks into smaller atoms, producing nuclear energy.
In the context of radioactive decay, half-life is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. This means that after one half-life, half of the original radioactive atoms have decayed, and after two half-lives, three-quarters have decayed, and so on. The concept of half-life helps scientists understand the rate of decay of radioactive substances.
Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are both processes that release energy from atoms, but they are different in how they work. Nuclear fission involves splitting a heavy atom into smaller atoms, releasing energy in the process. This is how nuclear power plants generate electricity. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, involves combining light atoms to form a heavier atom, also releasing energy. This is the process that powers the sun and other stars. The key distinction between the two processes is that fission involves splitting atoms, while fusion involves combining them. Fission typically produces radioactive waste, while fusion produces helium as a byproduct. Fusion also requires extremely high temperatures and pressures to occur, making it more difficult to achieve than fission.
Nuclear radiation can affect atoms in a couple of different ways. It commonly makes them hotter. But also, when the radiation includes neutrons, they can be captured by the atoms around. This can cause those atoms to do a number of things, including:Undergoing fission, often releasing more neutronsAbsorbing the neutronundergoing decay other than fission (even if the atom is not radioactive)bouncing the neutron off, and getting hot in the processIf the atom absorbs the neutron, its mass number changes, making it a different isotope. This often makes it a radioactive isotope, so it would decay at some later time.The fact that certain atoms will undergo fission when they are struck by a neutron is what causes nuclear chain reactions used in nuclear power plants.Read more: How_does_nuclear_radiation_affect_atoms
All atoms are nuclear, in that they all have nuclei. Some atoms have unstable nuclei, making them radioactive. I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean by "nuclear atoms," unless you meant to say radioactive atoms, in which case the answer is "they have unstable nuclei and they're radioactive."
No, nuclear activity is not a characteristic of living things. Nuclear activity refers to processes that involve changes in the nucleus of an atom, such as radioactive decay or nuclear reactions, which are not exclusive to living organisms. Living things do not exhibit nuclear activity in the same context as atoms or nuclear reactors.
Gamma radiation comes from the nuclei of atoms, usually as a result of nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. It is the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation and can be produced by processes such as nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or from certain types of radioactive decay.
Nitrogen atoms do not spontaneously change into other kinds of atoms. However, in nuclear reactions or processes like radioactive decay, nitrogen atoms can be converted into different atoms.
Artificial radioactive nuclides are typically produced through processes like nuclear fission reactions in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators bombarding target atoms with high-energy particles. These processes can introduce additional neutrons or protons into the nucleus, leading to the creation of new, unstable isotopes.
No. If they did, they would be radioactive and unstable.
radioactive decay
The splitting of nuclei of atoms is called nuclear fission. This process is categorized as either a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay reaction.
Nuclear Power
Uranium is the most commonly used radioactive element for nuclear energy production. When uranium atoms undergo nuclear fission, they release energy that can be harnessed in nuclear reactors to generate electricity.
According to Dalton's atomic theory chemical reactions occur when atoms are separated, joined, or rearranged. Atoms of one element, however, are never changed into atoms of another element as a result of a chemical reaction (it is possible only during nuclear reactions and radioactive disintegration).
A large radioactive atom breaks into smaller atoms, producing nuclear energy.