Types of Radioactive Decay

type
alpha () decay

example

238
92

beta (-) decay

notes

He + 23940Th + 2 00

particle = 42He nucleus (i.e., 42He2+)

!
!

- particle = !01e (an electron)

energy released in decay process creates the particle (not from an orbital)
net effect: convert neutron to proton
- particles likely to be produced by nuclides
with high neutron-to-proton ratios

4
2

234
90

Th

0
!1

e + 23941Pa

!
!
positron (+) decay

38
19

electron capture

gamma () decay

spontaneous fission

!
!
!
!

+ particle = 01e (a positive electron)

+ is "antiparticle" of net effect: convert proton to neutron
+ particles likely to be produced by nuclides
with low neutron-to-proton ratios

!
!
!
!

an inner-orbital electron captured by nucleus

generally slow
net effect: convert proton to neutron
likely for nuclides with low neutron-to-proton
ratios

Ni + !01e + 2 00

!
!
!

0
0

= high energy photon

frequently accompanies other decay types
a way of "draining off" excess energy (product
nuclide may be in excited state)

Xe + 10484Ru + 4 10n

!
!

generally slow
"splitting" of heavy nuclide to lighter ones with
similar mass numbers

195
80

0
1

e + 3188Ar

Hg + !01e

60
27

Co

252
98

Cf

195
79

Au

60
28

140
54