Radioactive Decay And Its Types

“Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation and the material containing unstable nuclei is radioactive”.

1. Alpha decay
2. Beta decay
3. Gamma decay

Alpha Decay

“Alpha decay or -decay is a type of radioactive decay in which atomic nucleus emits an -particle (Helium nucleus) thereby decay into different atomic nuclei with a mass number that is reduced by four and an atomic number that is reduced by two”.

Equation of -decay

Example of -decay

Other examples of α -decay:

Po ₈₄ ²¹⁰ → Pb ₈₂ ²⁰⁶ + He ₂ ⁴ + Energy

Np ₉₃ ²³⁷ → Pa ₉₁ ²³³ + He ₂ ⁴ + Energy

Pt ₇₈ ¹⁷⁵ → Os ₇₆ ¹⁷¹ + He ₂ ⁴ + Energy

Gd ₆₄ ¹⁴⁹ → Sm ₆₂ ¹⁴⁵ + He ₂ ⁴ + Energy

Uses:

• Production of Natural Helium.
• Used as smoke detectors.
• Used in -particle X-ray Spectroscopy.
• Used in different medical equipment.

Tunnel Theory of Alpha Decay:

• An alpha particle may exist as an entity within a heavy nucleus.
• Such a particle is in constant motion and is held in the nucleus by a potential barrier.
• The particle may tunnel through the barrier each time a collision occurs with a barrier.