QUESTIONS:

1. Define the following:

a. radioactivity: the radioactive nature of a substance such as uranium or plutonium
: Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses
energy by emitting ionizing particles (ionizing radiation). The emission is spontaneous, in that
the nucleus decays without collision with another particle or atom.

b. radioactive half-life: the time a radioactive substance takes to lose half its radioactivity
through decay. Symbol T1/2
: the period of time it takes for a substance undergoing decay to
decrease by half.

c. radioactive series: a series of related atom types nuclides of radioactive isotopes, each
of which is transformed into the next by the emission of an elementary particle until a stable
nuclide results.
There are three such sequences, the thorium, the uranium-radium, and the actinium, and almost
all naturally occurring radioactive isotopes belong to one of them.
: the decay chain refers to the radioactive decay of different discrete
radioactive decay products as a chained series of transformations
Decay stages are referred to by their relationship to previous or
subsequent stages. A parent isotope is one that undergoes decay to form a daughter isotope.
The daughter isotope may be stable or it may decay to form a daughter isotope of its own. The
daughter of a daughter isotope is sometimes called a granddaughter isotope.

2. What are the 3 radioactive emissions? Give the characteristics of each.

a. alpha (α) emission: Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic
nucleus emits an alpha particle, and thereby transforms (or 'decays') into an atom with a mass
number 4 less and atomic number 2 less.
: An alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 nucleus, and both mass
number and atomic number are the same.
: the emission of alpha particles from an atomic nucleus

b. beta (β) emission: a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a
positron) is emitted. In the case of electron emission, it is referred to as beta minus (β−), while in
the case of a positron emission as beta plus (β+). In electron emission, an electron antineutrino
is also emitted, while positron emission is accompanied by an electron neutrino. Beta decay is
mediated by the weak force.
: the emission of an electron by a radionuclide

c. gamma (Ɣ) emission: electromagnetic radiation of high frequency (very short

wavelength). They are produced by sub-atomic particle interactions such as electron-positron
annihilation, neutral pion decay, radioactive decay (including isomeric transition which involves
an inhibited gamma decay), fusion, fission or inverse Compton scattering in astrophysical
processes

3. Give importance of the radioactive series

*Radioactive elements are very important to study for many reasons:

Firstly, we would probably still be in WWII if we hadn't dropped the 2 atomic bombs. Both
of the 2 bombs used nuclear fission to cause a chain reaction. This chain reaction had so much
explosive power it destroyed buildings and incinerated people too close to the blast. And what
were the main ingredients to the bombs? Uranium and Plutonium (which are both radioactive).
 Secondly, we can use radiation as a power source. Think of being able to use the power of
those nuclear bombs to power your house

And finally, we can use radiation for medical reasons. You can kill cancer cells with
radiation, as long as you are careful to not hit the victim of the cancer, as it can also harm the
person.