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When a nucleus decays what typically happens to the element?
After an element's nucleus decays, it becomes one or more different elements. The type of decay determines what the new element(s) will be. The type of decay the nucleus of an element will undergo depends on the particular isotope of the particular element in question. For example, alpha decay results in an new element which has 2 less protons and 2 less neutrons (decrease in atomic number of 2 and decrease in mass number of 4). Fission results in an element splitting into two new elements of various sizes, accompanied by the release of other random particles. The two new "daughter" element's masses plus the masses of the other released particles will add up (approximately) to the mass of the original element. There are many other types of decay which produce different decay products.
What does it mean for an isotpe to be radioactive?
An isotope is radioactive if it undergoes spontaneous decay, emitting particles or radiation in the process. This decay results in the transformation of the atomic nucleus into a different element or a different isotope of the same element.
What subatomic particle makes an element unique?
The number of protons is unique for every element.Varying the number of neutrons will give you an isotope of the same element.Varying the number of electrons will give you an ion of the same element.
The process of positron emission results in a change to the atomic nucleus. Is that change a decrease of 1 or a decrease of 2 or an increase of 1 or is there no change?
In positron emission, atomic number decreases by one. That's because a proton in the nucleus of the element that is about to undergo positron emission changes into a neutron. This is beta plus decay, by the way. You'll recall that the atomic number of an element, which is that element's chemical identity, is determined solely by the number of protons in the nucleus. If we "lose" a proton because it changes into a neutron, atomic number will now decrease by one. Check out the links below to related posts.
Why do positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on a nucleus?
The reason positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on the nucleus of an atom is because the resulting atom undergoes nuclear transformation, and the new element will have one less proton and one more neutron than the precursor element. Both of these nuclear changes are interesting, so let's look a bit more closely. In positron emission (also called beta plus decay), a proton in the nucleus of an atom "changes" into a neutron and a positron is ejected. This results in one less proton in that nucleus (naturally), and the creation of a new element. And because the proton had become a neutron, the nucleus has the same number of nucleons and a similar atomic weight. In electron capture, a nucleus with "too many" protons will actually "pull in" an electron and take it into its nucleus. This electron will "combine" with a proton, and a neutron will result. This will reduce the number of protons in the nucleus, and the creation of a new element -- just like in positron emission. Links to related questions can be found below.
What results in radioactive decay causes loss of one or more protons?
a new element is formed
What information do the experimental results reveal about the nucleus of the gold atom?
The experimental results reveal that the gold atom has a highly dense nucleus, as gold is a heavy element. The results also suggest that the nucleus contains protons and neutrons, with the number of protons determining the atomic number of the gold atom. Additionally, experiments may indicate the presence of isotopes of gold with varying numbers of neutrons in the nucleus.
What is lost from the nucleus of atom when it emits an alpha particle?
When an atom emits an alpha particle, it loses two protons and two neutrons from its nucleus. This results in a new element being formed with an atomic number that is two less than the original element.
What part of the atom reveals the chemical identity of a element?
The atomic number defines an atom's identity, i.e. element. A group of atoms contatining the same number of protons in their nuclei belong to the same element even if they can have different numbers of neutrons or electrons associated with them. If two atoms have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons, they are called isotopes. If an atom has less or more electrons than its number of protons, it is known as an ion. In certain instances during radioactive decay, the number of protons in an atom's nucleus can actually change. This results in a transmutation (change of one element to another).
What happens to the number of protons when U-238 emits an alpha particle?
When U-238 emits an alpha particle, it loses two protons. This results in the atom transforming into a different element (Th-234) which has two fewer protons in the nucleus.
Which changes in beta decay mass number or the charge of the nucleus?
Beta decay results in either an increase or decrease in the number of protons, which results in a change in the nuclear charge and produces an atom of a different element.
If the number of protons in an atom changes a new element is formed?
The changing of one element into another, called transmutation, involves a change in the nucleus of the atom. And the number of protons in the nucleus must change for one element to become another one. It is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom that determines what element that atom is, and only a change in the proton count will herald the change of one element into another. The neutron count may or may not change in transmutation, but be assured that the number of protons will change.
Does the isotopes have the same protons or neutrons?
Regardless of element type, an isotope will have the same number of protons as the base element. The atomic mass changes due to the addition (or subtraction) of neutrons in the atom's nucleus. This in turn leads to an unstable atom and radiation.
When a nucleus decays what typically happens to the element?
After an element's nucleus decays, it becomes one or more different elements. The type of decay determines what the new element(s) will be. The type of decay the nucleus of an element will undergo depends on the particular isotope of the particular element in question. For example, alpha decay results in an new element which has 2 less protons and 2 less neutrons (decrease in atomic number of 2 and decrease in mass number of 4). Fission results in an element splitting into two new elements of various sizes, accompanied by the release of other random particles. The two new "daughter" element's masses plus the masses of the other released particles will add up (approximately) to the mass of the original element. There are many other types of decay which produce different decay products.
Isotopes of a given element have what?
An isotope has same number of protons but a different number of neutrons as the original element in the atomic nucleus; it has the same atomic number as the element which isn't an isotope, but will have a different mass number. -atomic number
Isotopes of the same element have differnt?
Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This results in isotopes having slightly different atomic masses while maintaining the same number of protons (which determines the element's identity).
How do the atoms of one isotope differ from those of other isotopes of the same element?
Primarily, isotopes differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus. Secondarily, because some combinations of protons and neutrons produce an unstable nucleus, they may differ by being radioactive.
