Key Terms of Radioactivity

A random and spontaneous disintegration (decay) of unstable nucleus in order to become stable.

We cannot predict which one among the unstable nuclei will decay at a certain time

Contains more energy than ‘needed’ or the nucleus is just too big, too many protons or neutrons

A measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment without any deliberate  radiation sources.

The process that unstable isotopes release different types of particles to become stable.

The elements which undergo the decay.

The ability of each type of radiation to pass through matter

Natural (Cannot be induced to happen, sped up nor slowed down)

The ability of radiation to damage molecules, When a radiation particle interacts with atoms, the interaction can cause the atom to lose electrons and thus become ionized.

Atoms of the same element with same proton number but different number of neutrons