RADIOA CTIVE

DECAY

Prepared by: N.M. Hinaut, RPh

RADIOACTIVE DECAY
Ø is the spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter
nucleus accompanied by or
both
Ø the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by
radiation
Ø decay or loss of energy transforming the parent atom (parent nuclide)
into an atom of different chemistry (daughter nuclide)
3 TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY
 3 TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES
EMITTED FROM RADIOACTIVE DECAY
§ chemical species that is
identical to the Helium nucleus
§ postively charged particle
§ the atomic number of an
element is reduced ny 2 units
when a particle is released
§ emission changes the chemical
element
§ have the LEAST penetration
power
§ can ionize many other atoms
§ speed is about TENTH of the
speed of light
§ attracted by electrical and
magnetic fields
§ a high electron or positron-
§ positively or negatively
charged particles
§ the atomic number of an
element is increased by 1 unit
when a particle is released
§ emission changes the chemical
element
§ have the MODERATE
penetration power
§ can ionize many other atoms
§ but not as good as alpha
particles
§ speed is about 90% of the
speed of light
§ attracted by electrical and
magnetic fields
-
-
§ a photon that carries an
energy in the form of
electromagnetic waves
§ not a charged particle
§ the atomic number of an
element is not affected by
particle emission
§ emission does not changed the
chemical element
§ have the HIGHEST penetration
power
§ have the LEAST ability to
ionize other matter
§ speed is EQUAL to the speed of
light
§ NOT attracted by electrical
and magnetic fields
ØFor radioactive nucleus that emits a beta particle;
the parent and its daughter nuclei are either be as:

ISOTOPES

ISOTONES

ISOMERS

ISOBARS
 SUMMARY

ISOTOPES element mass number

1 2 3
due to same 1 H, 1 H, 1H
atomic number
& protons
different element
22 22
ISOTONES neutrons and Ne,
11
Na
12
proton

ISOMERS molecule structure

40S, 40Cl, 40Ar,

ISOBARS mass number element

atomic number 40K, 40Ca