How does radioactivity relate to stability?

Radiation is emitted from atoms when an unstable atom decays to become more stable. When an atom has extra neutrons or protons, it causes the element to become unstable. This activity helps students understand how emitting an alpha or beta particle changes the structure of an atom.

What is the relationship between isotopes and radioactive decay?

Radioactive Decay to other Elements When isotopes decay they can lose some of their atomic particles (i.e. electrons and protons) and turn from one element into another. Sometimes isotopes decay from one unstable isotope into another unstable isotope. This can happen continuously in a long radioactive chain.

What does radioactive decay do to stability?

In a nuclear decay reaction, also called radioactive decay, an unstable nucleus emits radiation and is transformed into the nucleus of one or more other elements. The resulting daughter nuclei have a lower mass and are lower in energy (more stable) than the parent nucleus that decayed.

How does radioactive decay help stabilize an unstable nucleus?

An unstable nucleus tries to become more stable by decaying into another nucleus. When a nucleus emits an alpha or beta particle, the new nucleus has excess energy. It can release this excess energy by emitting gamma rays. Thus, thorium-234 becomes more stable by releasing gamma rays and a beta particle.

Why are radioactive isotopes unstable?

These isotopes are called radioisotopes. Their nuclei are unstable, so they break down, or decay, and emit radiation. A: The nucleus may be unstable because it has too many protons or an unstable ratio of protons to neutrons.

Why do radioactive isotopes emit radiation?

All the atoms of a given element have the same number of protons in their nucleus, but they may have different numbers of neutrons. Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Their nuclei are unstable, so they break down, or decay, and emit radiation.

How is a radioactive isotope different from a stable isotope?

The nucleus of each atom contains protons and neutrons. While the number of protons defines the element (e.g., hydrogen, carbon, etc.) Stable isotopes do not decay into other elements. In contrast, radioactive isotopes (e.g., 14C) are unstable and will decay into other elements.

What is the relationship between unstable nuclei and radioactive decay?

Radioactive atoms emit radiation because their nuclei are unstable*. Unstable systems gain stability by losing energy. Unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation in a spontaneous process called radioactive decay.