Radioactive decay means the decay in any material with respect to the time.Every thing has some life as when we die if we are not buried or cremenated our body will decay too. It is calculated for everything on the earth by using that material's half life,which means time taken to decay material to its half.Carbon Dating also uses this method to know the age of artifacts . The eqn for calculating Decay is N(t)=No e^(-0.693t/t^(1/2)) I hope this will help you.
so, to understand what is radioactive decay? let's first understand about radioactive radiation and particles.
☢Alpha rays :- alpha rays is a stream of positively charged particles.
basically, these are positively charged Helium ion that doesn't have a single electron. they have the 4 unit of mass ,as they have two protons and 2 neutrons and we have two unit of positive charge , as they have 2 protons without electrons. Mainly , they are much heavier particles as compare to other.
☢Beta rays:- beta rays with a stream of negatively charged particle.
basically, these are high energy and high speed electrons are positrons that is emitted by the nucleus of radioactive element during radioactive decay.
☢ Gamma Rays:- basically the gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation means they are massless particles.
because it is a electromagnetic radiation, it is has neutral charge. so we can say that, Gamma Rays are the form of energy.
now after understanding what are the radioactive radiations and particles, let's understand what is radioactive decay and its types?
☢☣ Radioactive decay :- it is a process by which any radioactive element start radiating radioactive radiations from its nucleus. or, it is a process of radiating some energy in the form of radiation from the radioactive nucleus. these radiation maybe Alpha radiation, beta radiation or Gamma radiation along with neutrino particles.
☣1). Alpha decay :- Alpha decay is a process by which the nucleus of any radioactive element start in emitting the Alpha particles. it means that it start losing their positively charged Helium ion that has 2 protons and 2 neutrons without a single electron.
So, when Alpha decay happens then atomic mass is reduced by 4 units and atomic number of an element reduced by 2 units because the positively charged Helium atom has 4 unit of mass and 2 unit of positive charge that is proton.
And , as when Alpha decay happens then the nucleus loses two protons that changes its atomic number of that radioactive element.So, the element is changed over get the new element.☣
☣2). Beta decay :- Beta decay is radioactive decay process by which the nucleus of radioactive element start radiating the beta particles.
As, we know that, the neutron is nothing but the proton that is attached with electron.
So, during beta decay, the nucleus of radioactive element that have nutrons in its nucleus, start radiating or releasing the electron and buy this the neutron changes into the protons. Due do it again the atom get access of one electron and one proton. so, the increasing proton, results as the increasing atomic number that changes the element or in other words we get a new element.☣
☣3). Gamma decay :- Basically, Gamma Rays are electromagnetic radiation. So, they doesn't carry any charge and they also doesn't have mass. that's why during this radioactive decay the mass and the charge of an atom is not affected .
This is also a radioactive decay, by which the nucleus of radioactive element start radiating electromagnetic radiation that is gamma rays.☣
☢☢Note:- during the radioactive decay, Gamma Rays are emitted by the atom of an radioactive element along with the alpha and beta particle. this can be easily separated out by placing the radioactive element in the electrical or magnetic field.☢☢
☣4). Positron emission :- to understand the positive emission, let's first understand about the positrons.
So, positrons are the antimatter version of electrons, that means , they are positively charged electrons.
So, the positive decay is a radioactive decay on the special type of Beta decay. in which the nucleus of radioactive element convert the proton into neutron by emitting positron and electron neutrino. Basically, during positron decay the atomic number of an element changes without changing atomic mass.☣
☣5). Electron capture:- electron capture is also related to Radioactive decay. during this process the electron from the K shell is jumped into the nucleus of an atom by which the proton changes into neutron and neutrino is formed in addition. but later This neutrino particle get ejected from the nucleus.
As a result, atomic number of atom changes on another word the new element is formed with changed number of protons in nucleus. it is also known as K capture as the electron jumps from K shell to Nucleus.☣
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Verified answer
Radioactive decay means the decay in any material with respect to the time.Every thing has some life as when we die if we are not buried or cremenated our body will decay too.It is calculated for everything on the earth by using that material's half life,which means time taken to decay material to its half.Carbon Dating also uses this method to know the age of artifacts .
The eqn for calculating Decay is
N(t)=No e^(-0.693t/t^(1/2))
I hope this will help you.
Verified answer
Hi friendhere's your answer looking for
so, to understand what is radioactive decay?
let's first understand about radioactive radiation and particles.
☢Alpha rays :- alpha rays is a stream of positively charged particles.
basically, these are positively charged Helium ion that doesn't have a single electron. they have the 4 unit of mass ,as they have two protons and 2 neutrons and we have two unit of positive charge , as they have 2 protons without electrons.
Mainly , they are much heavier particles as compare to other.
☢Beta rays:- beta rays with a stream of negatively charged particle.
basically, these are high energy and high speed electrons are positrons that is emitted by the nucleus of radioactive element during radioactive decay.
☢ Gamma Rays:- basically the gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation means they are massless particles.
because it is a electromagnetic radiation, it is has neutral charge.
so we can say that, Gamma Rays are the form of energy.
now after understanding what are the radioactive radiations and particles, let's understand what is radioactive decay and its types?
☢☣ Radioactive decay :- it is a process by which any radioactive element start radiating radioactive radiations from its nucleus.
or,
it is a process of radiating some energy in the form of radiation from the radioactive nucleus.
these radiation maybe Alpha radiation, beta radiation or Gamma radiation along with neutrino particles.
☢☣TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY ☣☢
1). Alpha decay
2). beta decay.
3) Gamma decay
4). positron emission.
5). electron capture.
now let's discuss this all one by one:-
☣1). Alpha decay :- Alpha decay is a process by which the nucleus of any radioactive element start in emitting the Alpha particles.
it means that it start losing their positively charged Helium ion that has 2 protons and 2 neutrons without a single electron.
So, when Alpha decay happens then atomic mass is reduced by 4 units and atomic number of an element reduced by 2 units because the positively charged Helium atom has 4 unit of mass and 2 unit of positive charge that is proton.
And , as when Alpha decay happens then the nucleus loses two protons that changes its atomic number of that radioactive element.So, the element is changed over get the new element.☣
☣2). Beta decay :- Beta decay is radioactive decay process by which the nucleus of radioactive element start radiating the beta particles.
As, we know that, the neutron is nothing but the proton that is attached with electron.
So, during beta decay, the nucleus of radioactive element that have nutrons in its nucleus, start radiating or releasing the electron and buy this the neutron changes into the protons.
Due do it again the atom get access of one electron and one proton.
so, the increasing proton, results as the increasing atomic number that changes the element or in other words we get a new element.☣
☣3). Gamma decay :- Basically, Gamma Rays are electromagnetic radiation. So, they doesn't carry any charge and they also doesn't have mass.
that's why during this radioactive decay the mass and the charge of an atom is not affected .
This is also a radioactive decay, by which the nucleus of radioactive element start radiating electromagnetic radiation that is gamma rays.☣
☢☢Note:- during the radioactive decay, Gamma Rays are emitted by the atom of an radioactive element along with the alpha and beta particle.
this can be easily separated out by placing the radioactive element in the electrical or magnetic field.☢☢
☣4). Positron emission :- to understand the positive emission, let's first understand about the positrons.
So, positrons are the antimatter version of electrons, that means , they are positively charged electrons.
So, the positive decay is a radioactive decay on the special type of Beta decay.
in which the nucleus of radioactive element convert the proton into neutron by emitting positron and electron neutrino.
Basically, during positron decay the atomic number of an element changes without changing atomic mass.☣
☣5). Electron capture:- electron capture is also related to Radioactive decay. during this process the electron from the K shell is jumped into the nucleus of an atom by which the proton changes into neutron and neutrino is formed in addition.
but later This neutrino particle get ejected from the nucleus.
As a result, atomic number of atom changes on another word the new element is formed with changed number of protons in nucleus.
it is also known as K capture as the electron jumps from K shell to Nucleus.☣
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hope you are satisfied with my answer