Radioactivity

What are the three types of radiation?

Alpha particles, Beta particles, and Gamma rays.

What is the meaning of half-life?

Half-life is the time taken for a specific isotope to fall to half of its original value.

Define radioactivity.

Radioactivity is the spontaneous and uncontrollable decay of an atomic nucleus that emits particles and rays.

What is a radioisotope?

Radioisotopes are isotopes that are unstable and undergo radioactive decay, releasing energy in the form of radiation.

Describe alpha particles.

Alpha particles are made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, a Helium nuclei.

What happens during alpha decay?

During alpha decay, a parent nucleus emits an alpha particle, becoming a daughter nucleus with 2 fewer protons and 4 fewer nucleons.

What occurs during beta-minus decay?

In beta-minus decay, a neutron in a parent nucleus becomes a proton in a daughter nucleus by emitting a beta-minus particle (an electron) and an anti-electron neutrino.

How do alpha and beta decay differ in terms of proton and nucleon counts?

Alpha decay decreases the number of protons by 2 and the nucleon count by 4, while beta decay increases the number of protons by 1 and keeps the nucleon count the same.

What are hazards of nuclear power stations?

Hazards include the potential for accidents, production of radioactive waste, and the risk of radiation exposure.

What are medical applications of radioisotopes?

Examples include medical tracers and radiotherapy.

Define a stable isotope vs. an unstable isotope.

A stable isotope does not emit radiation, while an unstable one undergoes spontaneous nuclear decay.

What is background radiation?

Background radiation is radiation that is always present in the environment, originating from natural and artificial sources.

How do you balance nuclear equations for radioactive decay?

By ensuring the sum of atomic numbers and mass numbers is equal on both sides of the equation.