Gamma radiation results from the nucleus being placed in an excited state due to some prior event, such as alpha or beta decay.
The nucleus "wants" to release its excess energy, so it does so. When it does, a photon is emitted. This is the gamma radiation. There is a comparable sequence involving the electron cloud. In that case, the resulting photon has less energy, and is characterized as an x-ray, rather than gamma.
Under normal conditions, the gamma event occurs immediately (about 1 x 10-12 seconds) after the initiating event. However, some nuclides have a meta-stable form, where the gamma event is delayed substantially after the initiating event - say for a few hours or even a day or so.
There are many examples of meta-stable isotopes. One that comes to mind is Tc-99m, which is used as a tracer in various medical scanning technologies such as a heart scan or bone scan. The advantage of this is that the body is not subjected to the stronger impact of the initiating event - just the gamma event - and that can be seen with gamma scanning instrumentation.
90Th232 undergoes alpha decay to form 88Ra228. Remember, in alpha decay, a helium nuclei is emitted, comprising two protons and two neutrons. As a result, the atomic number goes down by 2, and the atomic mass number goes down by 4.
During each alpha decay, a helium nucleus (alpha particle) is emitted, decreasing the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4. Protactinium-229 undergoes two alpha decays to form Francium-221. The process of alpha decay involves the emission of alpha particles from the nucleus of an atom.
Transmutation, which is the change of atoms from one element to another.
The balanced equation for the alpha decay of thorium-229, Th-229, is: Th-229 -> Ra-225 + He-4 This equation shows that a thorium-229 nucleus undergoes alpha decay to form a radium-225 nucleus and a helium-4 particle.
An alpha particle is a helium-4 nucleus. Look up the number of the element, and subtract two from that (since helium has 2 protons). As for the number, subtract 210 - 4 (since the alpha particle has an atomic mass of 4).
When bismuth-212 undergoes alpha decay, it becomes thallium-208.
If seaborgium undergoes alpha decay, it would create rutherfordium as the resulting element.
D. All of these change. In alpha decay, an isotope emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, leading to a decrease in the atomic number and mass number of the parent isotope. This results in the formation of a new element with a different name, atomic number, and mass number.
Pyruvate
Americium can change into neptunium through a process called alpha decay. During alpha decay, an alpha particle (helium nucleus) is emitted from the nucleus of the americium atom, resulting in the transformation of the americium atom into a neptunium atom.
Polonium-218 undergoes alpha decay to form lead-214, which then undergoes beta decay to form bismuth-214.
90Th232 undergoes alpha decay to form 88Ra228. Remember, in alpha decay, a helium nuclei is emitted, comprising two protons and two neutrons. As a result, the atomic number goes down by 2, and the atomic mass number goes down by 4.
When astatine-218 undergoes alpha decay, it emits a helium nucleus (alpha particle) and transforms into the new element, polonium-214. This process reduces the atomic number of the nucleus by 2 and the mass number by 4.
That depends on the type of decay, alpha and beta decay change the atom into a different element but gamma decay does not.
When Fr-223 undergoes alpha decay, it emits an alpha particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons. This transforms the nucleus into a different element with atomic number decreased by 2 and atomic mass number decreased by 4.
When radon undergoes natural transmutation, it emits alpha particles or alpha radiation. This process occurs as radon changes into a series of other radioactive elements before reaching a stable state. The alpha particles emitted during these decay processes can pose health risks if inhaled or ingested.
When uranium undergoes alpha decay, it emits an alpha particle (which is equivalent to a helium nucleus, ( ^4_2He )), resulting in a decrease of its atomic number by 2 and its mass number by 4. For example, if uranium-238 (( ^{238}{92}U )) undergoes alpha decay, it transforms into thorium-234 (( ^{234}{90}Th )). Thus, the notation for the thorium isotope produced is ( ^{234}_{90}Th ).