TYPES OF RADIOACTIVITY

TYPES OF RADIOACTIVITY

Alpha Decay, Beta Decay, Beta plus, Beta minus, Gamma Ray Emission, and Electron Capture

RADIOACTIVITY OF RADIOISOTOPE

the initial nucleus is called the mother, or parent nucleus. The correspondent radionuclide is also called the mother (parent) one. The nucleus that appears because of radioactive transformation is called the daughter nucleus, or progeny nucleus. The same name the resulting radionuclide has.

mother, or parent nucleus

initial nucleus

correspondent radionuclide

also called the mother (parent)

daughter nucleus, or progeny nucleus.

The nucleus that appears because of radioactive transformation

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF CHARGE

is the principle that the total electric charge in an isolated system never changes. The net quantity of electric charge, the amount of positive charge minus the amount of negative charge in the universe, is always conserved

ALPHA DECAY

is a type of radioactive decay where the unstable atomic nuclei emit a helium nucleus (alpha particle) and in the process transforms into another more stable element

the alpha particle

consists of four nucleons, and they are two neutrons and two protons. Alpha radiation reduces the ratio of protons to neutrons in the parent nucleus, bringing it to a more stable configuration

BETA DECAY

Is a type of radioactive decay in which a proton is transformed into a neutron or vice versa inside the nucleus of the radioactive sample

BETA MINUS

A neutron is transformed to yield a proton, causing an increase in the atom’s atomic number. The neutron is neutral, but the proton is positive

Antineutrino

the antimatter counterpart of neutrino

BETA PLUS

the proton disintegrates to yield a neutron causing a decrease in the atomic number of the radioactive sample. The nucleus experiences a loss of proton but gains a neutron

Positron

the antimatter equivalent of an electron

GAMMA RAY EMISSION

Is a stream of high-energy electromagnetic radiation given off by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay

ELECTRON CAPTURE OR K-CAPTURE

Is the radioactive decay process by which an atom's inner orbital electron is absorbed within the nucleus followed by conversion of a proton to a neutron and emission of a neutrino