Radioactivity Review

Front

What is radioactivity?

Back

Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.

Front

What is a half-life?

Back

A half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

What is a parent isotope?

Back

A parent isotope is the original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form a daughter isotope.

Front

What is a daughter isotope?

Back

A daughter isotope is the product of the decay of a parent isotope.

Front

What type of decay is represented by the equation: 214Bi → 0e + 214Po?

Back

This is an example of beta decay.

Front

What is alpha decay?

Back

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons).

Front

What is beta decay?

Back

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus.

Front

What is gamma decay?

Back

Gamma decay is the release of gamma radiation from a nucleus, often following alpha or beta decay.

Front

What makes an element radioactive?

Back

An element is radioactive if it has an unstable nucleus that can decay over time.

Front

What happens to the ratio of parent to daughter isotopes over time?

Back

As time passes, the amount of daughter isotopes increases while the amount of parent isotopes decreases.