radioactive decay Flashcards
why are some atomic nuclei unstable
this is because there is an imbalance of forces within the nucleus , forces exist within the particles in the nucleus
what is an isotope
an atom that has the same number of protons but different number of neutrons
which carbon is unstable compared to carbon 12
carbon 14, it has two extra neutrons compared to stable carbon 12
why are some isotopes unstable
some are unstable due
to their large size
too many or too less neutrons
how do unstable nuclei become more stable
- they emit radiation, in the form of a high energy particle or wave
- as the radiation moves away from the nucleus, it takes energy with it
- this reduces overall energy of nucleus and makes the nucleus more stable
what is the process of emitting radiation
radioactive decay
why is radioactive decay known as a random process
as we do not know when exactly a particular nucleus will decay
so the process happens randomly
what is nuclear radiation
what is emitted when an unstable nucleus decays
what are the 4 types of radiation that can be emitted
- alpha
- beta
- gamma
- neutrons
what is the symbol of an alpha particle
a
what charge does an alpha particle have
charge of +2
what is the symbol for beta
ß
what are beta particles described as
they are described as fast-moving electrons
when are beta particles produced
they are produced when a neutron changes into a proton and electron
what charge does a beta particle have
it has a -1 charge , this means that they can be affected by an electric field
