s behaviour is not always down to its electrons!

For example: carbon has three isotopes:

Isotopes are atoms with the same proton number but different number of neutrons.
The three isotopes of carbon as illustrated above are named as follows:
Carbon-12: C12- just less than 99% of carbon atoms
Carbon-13: C13 - just greater than 1% of carbon atoms
Carbon-14: C14 - very small percentage.
The Carbon-14 atom is the most interesting! It has an unstable nucleus because of the extra neutrons.
As a simple rule, atoms prefer having the same number of neutrons as protons. Otherwise the imbalance can cause
the nucleus to be unstable. The result of this unstable nucleus is that the atom 'throws' out particles, in order, to
become more stable. In the case of the carbon-14 atom it throws out a particle to become a nitrogen atom. This
process of losing particles is called decay.
Carbon-14 is said to be radioactive. It is called a radioisotope or radionuclide. When it decays it gives out
radiation.
It is not only carbon that has radioactive isotopes. Atoms belonging to elements at the bottom of the Periodic Table
tend to have several radioisotopes because they have lots of neutrons as compared to protons.
All radioisotopes eventually turn into stable atoms by giving out radiation.
Decay is a Random Process
You can't control the decay of a nucleus because it is a nuclear reaction not a chemical one. Hence, heat or catalysts
have no effect. This lack of control is why decay is random.
Take the example above, it could take seconds or hundreds of years to turn an atom of polonium-216 into an atom
of lead-208!
Even though, decay is random, scientists have come up with a way of estimating the time taken for decay to occur for
a specific radioisotope. This is called the Half-Life.
The half-life is the time taken for half the radioisotope in a sample to decay.
Types of radiation
Radiation consists of three types of particle:
1. Alpha: An alpha particle is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, so it has a proton number of 2, and a mass of 4
units. This is identical to the nucleus of a helium atom.
In equations or diagrams like the one below, the nucleus of a helium atom is often used to show the emission (giving
out) of alpha radiation. An alpha particle moves quickly out of the radioisotope but soon slows down in air. Its
penetrating power is poor as even paper and skin can stop it in its tracks!

Advantages and Disadvantages of Radioactivity

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The harmful effects of radiation
If radiation collides with molecules in the air or in your body, it throws out of them electrons. By throwing
out electrons you produce charged particles called ions. This means it is the radiation responsible for
ionising molecules.
If this happens in our body, the cells may die or they may undergo a change called a mutation. The result
is called radiation sickness. A large dose of radiation will cause death!
Small doses of radiation over a long period of time can cause the cells to multiply. However, these cells are
mutated. Some time later cancer may occur.

Background Radiation
We are surrounded by background radiation all of the time! Background radiation comes from the soil,
rocks, the air, water, plants, building materials and food. Some radiation is due to cosmic rays from outer
space. However, fortunately, our body can withstand low level radiation without ill effects because it is able
to repair any damage.
Radiation can be useful
As we've seen from the above narrative, radiation can be harmful, even cause death. However, it can also
be most helpful.

Cancer Treatment:
Gamma rays are capable of passing deep inside the body and damage cells on their travels. But as well as
causing cancer, they can be used to kill off cancer cells and even cure people from this illness. This
treatment is called radiotherapy. Cobalt-60 is commonly used to kill cancer cells. The idea is to aim
accurately at these cells with the correct strength.

Killing Microbes:
Gamma rays successfully kill microbes that cause food to decay. So food treated with this radiation have a
longer shelf life. Surgical instruments and syringes are also treated with gamma rays, in order, to prevent
infections been transferred from patient to patient.

Tracers:
A Geiger Counter is an instrument that measures radiation. If radioisotopes are added to oil or gas,
engineers can follow the radioisotope, and trace any leaks in oil or gas pipes.

Carbon Dating:
When an animal or plant dies it stops taking in carbon. But its carbon-14 content continues to decay. If we
compare the carbon-14 with that from a living thing, and knowing the half-life of carbon-14, the age of
animal and plant remains can be calculated. This is known as carbon dating.

Dating Rocks:
Twelve out of every 1000 potassium atoms is the radioistope potassium-40. Its half life is a staggering
twelve thousand years and decays to eventually form the stable argon atom. By measuring the argon
content of many rocks that contain potassium, scientists can calculate the age of the rock.