Radioactive decay - a process in which the elementary particles are lost core isotope because that isotope becomes more stable element.These subatomic substance with great speed leave the atom.Decay radioactive isotope emits gamma rays and alpha and beta particles.An explanation of this process is that the majority of unstable nuclei.Isotopically called varieties of the same chemical element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
Types of radioactive decay: gamma rays, alpha and beta decay.Further details about them.During alpha decay, helium is released, which is also called alpha particles, beta decay of the nucleus of an atom loses an electron, moving forward in the periodic table by one position, and gamma rays - the disintegration of the nuclei with the simultaneous emission of photons, or gamma rays.In the latter case, the process takes place with loss of energy, but without modification of the chemical element.
reaction radioactive decay occurs in such a way that for a certain period of time from the core elements comes the number of nucleons in proportion to the number of nucleons, which still remains in the nucleus.That is, the more of them is still in the atom, the more they will be released from it.The rate of decay of an atom determines the so-called constant radioactivity, which is also known as radioactive decay constant.Usually, however, it is not measured in physics it.Instead, use a value such as the half-life - the time in which the core will lose half of its nucleons.It depends on the type of material and can last from a negligible fraction of a second to billions of years.In other words, some of the nuclei of atoms can exist forever, and some - a very short time before the collapse.
He isotope that was originally in the decay process is called the parent, and the result - a subsidiary isotope.
Radioactive elements are produced in the majority of cases as a result of a chain reaction of fission of atoms.For example, "mother" (primary) nucleus breaks up into several "child", those, in turn, are also divided.And this chain is not interrupted until until formed stable isotopes.For example: a half-life of uranium is more than four and a half billion years.During this time, as a result of nuclear fission of the first formed element thorium, the one in turn becomes the palladium and at the end of all this is a long chain of lead.Rather, its stable isotope.
radioactive decay has a number of features.It is impossible to remain silent about his "side effects."For example, if we take a sample of a radioactive isotope, as a result of the collapse of get a number of radioactive substances with different mass of the nucleus.You can give as examples a lot of chains of division.Radioactivity - is, by and large, is a natural phenomenon.After the disintegration of the nuclear substances occurred long before man discovered these mechanisms.However, the activities of this decay has led to an increase in background radiation of the planet.In particular, because of the artificial acceleration of natural processes.
radioactive decay of humanity turns both new opportunities and dangers.One can think of the process of nuclear fission of uranium-238.It is, in particular, leads to the formation of radon-222.This inert noble gas found in large numbers on the planet.By itself, it does not pose any danger, but only so long as the nucleus of its atoms do not start to decay into other elements.Its products division, especially in the unventilated room, harm to human health.
radioactive decay as the process may benefit.But only if the proper use of its products.For example, radioactive phosphorus introduced by means of injection into the body, helps to get information about the state of the patient's bones.Rays emitted by the fixed light-sensitive equipment to provide precise pictures with fixed fracture site.The degree of radioactivity is very small and may not cause any harm to humans.
