Radioactive Decay - (Organic/Nuclear Chemistry)

Radioactive decay

The spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter nucleus, accompanied by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both

Nuclear radiation

The radiation that exposed the plate; particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during radiative decay

Radioactive nuclide

Uranium; an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay

Nuclide’s type and rate of decay dependence

On the nucleon content and energy level of the nucleus

Alpha particle ()

Two protons and two neutrons bound together is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay

Alpha particles nuclei and charge

Helium nuclei and charge of 2+

Alpha emission

Restricted almost entirely to very heavy nuclei

Heavy nuclei

Both the number of neutrons and the number of protons need to be reduced in order to increase the stability of the nucleus

Nuclides above the band of stability

Are unstable because their neutron-proton ratio is too large

To decrease the number of neutrons,

A neutron can be converted into a proton and an electron

Beta particle ()

An electron emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay

Nuclides below the band of stability

Are unstable because their neutron-proton ratio is too small

To decrease the number of protons,

A proton can be converted into a neutron by releasing a positron

Positron

A particle that has the same mass as an electron but has a positive charge and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay

Electron capture

An inner orbital electron is captured by the new nucleus of its own atom

Inner orbital electron

Is combined with a proton and a neutron is formed

Gamma rays ()

High energy electromagnetic waves emitted from a nucleus as it changes from an excited state to a ground energy state

Gamma rays wavelength

10^{-10} , 10^{-11}, 10^{-12}, 10^{-13}

Half life (t_1/2)

The time required for half the atoms of a radioactive nucleus to decay