Radioactive Decay

2.25 x 10 15j

After 96 days, there would be approximately 1 gram of Thorium-234 left from the initial 4 grams. Thorium-234 has a half-life of 24.1 days, so after each half-life, the amount of Thorium-234 would be halved.

Particles or electromagnetic waves

The energy released through radioactive decay can be calculated using Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2, where E is the energy, m is the mass lost, and c is the speed of light. For 1 kg of mass lost, the energy released would be about 9 x 10^16 joules.

During the nuclear decay of Ne-19, a positron is emitted.

To write nuclear decay equations, you would typically start with the parent nucleus and identify the type of decay (alpha, beta, gamma). Then, you would balance the equation by conserving mass number and atomic number on both sides of the equation. Finally, you write the decay products. Remember to include the correct particles emitted during the decay process.

T99 is Technetion 99

has a Decay rate of 6h

Some isotopes of elements are naturally radioactive, meaning they emit radiation spontaneously. However, humans have also created radioactive isotopes through processes such as nuclear reactors and weapons testing. So while radioactivity can occur naturally, it can also be man-made.

Make a graph by plotting the atomic number vs the mass number of stable isotopes. If you then locate the position of some unstable isotope and it is on one side of the stable isotopes it indicates beta decay, but if on the other side it indicated alpha decay.

This a nuclear decay graph.

Gamma decay involves the emission of a gamma ray, which is a high-energy photon with no charge and no mass.

Nuclear fission is not a common form of natural radioactive decay. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy atomic nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process, but it is primarily associated with artificial processes such as nuclear power generation or nuclear weapons.

Sometimes there is, depending on the type of decay. In the so-called "beta decy", the atom emits either an electron or an anti-electron.

In nuclear decay equations, reactants are the original unstable nucleus undergoing decay, while products are the resulting stable or daughter nucleus and any emitted particles such as alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. The reactants are on the left side of the equation, and the products are on the right side.

Nuclear decay is the spontaneous process where an unstable nucleus emits particles or energy to become more stable. Nuclear transformation reactions involve bombarding a nucleus with particles to alter its composition or create new nuclei. Decay is a natural process, while transformation reactions are induced.

The nuclear decay equation for beryllium-7 is: Be-7 -> Li-7 + e⁻ + νe This shows that beryllium-7 decays into lithium-7, an electron, and an electron antineutrino.

Radioactive decay can generate heat within magma, contributing to its overall temperature. This heat can cause magma to become more fluid and less viscous, potentially leading to increased volcanic activity and eruptions. Additionally, radioactive decay products within magma can alter its chemical composition and influence its behavior.

Random decay refers to the spontaneous breakdown or disintegration of atomic nuclei without external influence, leading to the emission of radiation such as alpha, beta, or gamma particles. This process occurs unpredictably and is governed by the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, resulting in an exponential decay of radioactive isotopes over time.

Carbon dating is not typically used to determine the age of rocks and minerals. Instead, techniques such as radiometric dating, which relies on the natural decay of radioactive isotopes, are more commonly used for this purpose. These methods can provide more accurate age estimates for rocks and minerals over a wider range of time scales.

Radioactive decay is the spontaneous change or disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus as it transforms itself to lose energy. It does this by the release of either particulate radiation or electromagnetic radiation, or both. This atomic event is random and cannot be predicted, but by applying statistical principles to large numbers of a given radionuclide, an "average" decay time can be found, and we have the half-life. There are several different types of radioactive decay. They range from spontaneous fission to alpha decay, beta decay and a couple of others.

The spontaneous breakdown of a nucleus

1. prompt radiation is emitted at the time of detonation and propagates in straight lines from the fireball in all directions; prompt radiation is neutrons, gamma rays, x-rays, UV, light, IR, with smaller amounts of microwave and radio waves
2. delayed radiation is mostly in the form of fallout and spreads by the winds (in an atmospheric detonation), water currents (in an underwater detonation), or by following the earth's magnetic field lines (in a detonation in space; delayed radiation is mostly alpha, beta, and gamma rays

You cannot smell nuclear radiation, nor detect it with any of your senses directly.

However if the nuclear radiation was intense enough (several thousand REM/hour) it is possible that it might ionize the air enough to produce enough ozone that you could smell the ozone (which has a very acrid sour smell). But if it is this intense, not long after you first smelled the ozone you would have already accumulated a dose high enough to have severe radiation poisoning and you could be so sick that you could no longer stand and try to leave the irradiated area. If you did get out you would need intensive care in a well equipped modern hospital to have even a 30% chance of surviving, without hospitalization you would die in no more than a month in indescribable agony.

Radiocarbon dating is used for frozen fossils because it can accurately determine the age of organic materials up to about 50,000 years old. This method relies on the decay of carbon-14 isotopes in organic materials, which stops when an organism dies. By measuring the remaining carbon-14 levels in a fossil, scientists can calculate its age even if it is frozen.

Polonium applications: - Source of neutrons: as Po-BeO - Radioisotope thermoelectric energy source - Alpha particles source - Brushes with Po to eliminate static charges from different surfaces - Material in radiochemistry studies

The nuclear decay equation for Po-208 is:

Po-208 → Pb-204 + He-4