Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
The spontaneous breakdown of unstable atomic nuclei to atomic nuclei, resulting in more energetically stable atomic nuclei, is known as radioactivity. A small quantity of mass is transformed to energy in radioactive decay, which is a highly exoergic, statistically random, first-order process. Because it’s a first-order process, every radioactive species has its unique half-life, which is the amount of time it takes for a large number of nuclei to decay to half their original number.
Many nuclei are radioactive, meaning they break down by releasing particles and forming a new nucleus as a result. Until now, atoms of the same element have been unable to transform into distinct elements in our research. That’s because just the electrons were altering in all of the other sorts of modifications outlined. The nucleus, which holds the protons that determine which element an atom is, is altering as a result of these changes.
What is the reason behind radioactivity?
A nucleus with too many neutrons will produce a negative beta particle, which will convert one of the neutrons to a proton. When a nucleus has too many protons, it emits a positron (a positively charged electron), which converts a proton to a neutron. When a nucleus receives too much energy, it produces a gamma-ray, which emits a large amount of energy without affecting any of the nucleus’ constituents. A nucleus with too much mass will produce an alpha particle, ejecting four heavy particles in the process (two protons and two neutrons).
How to Measure Radioactivity?
The phenomenon of radioactivity is a physical rather than a biological one. Simply put, a sample’s radioactivity may be determined by measuring how many atoms decay spontaneously per second. This may be accomplished using devices that identify the specific type of radiation released at each “decay” or disintegration. It’s possible that the total number of disintegrations per second is fairly high. As a kind of shorthand, scientists have agreed on a set of common units.
Characteristics of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Rays
Three types of emissions are typical in natural radioactive decay. When these emissions were first discovered, scientists were unable to match them to any known particles. Hence they were given the name:
alpha particles (α)
beta particles (β)
gamma rays (γ)
These particles were given names based on the Greek alphabet’s first three letters. Later, alpha particles were recognised as helium-4 nuclei, beta particles as electrons, and gamma rays as a type of electromagnetic radiation similar to x-rays but considerably more powerful and hazardous to living things.
Alpha Rays
Positively charged particles are known as alpha rays. The alpha particle is a helium atom with two neutrons and protons that is extremely active and energetic. These particles have the lowest penetration and ionisation powers. Due to their great ionisation strength, they can cause considerable harm if they enter the body. They may ionise a large number of atoms in a short amount of time. It’s because alpha-emitting radioactive compounds must be handled with rubber gloves.
Properties
A sequence of positively charged particles with a charge of +2 and a mass of 4 make up the Alpha particle. According to Rutherford, the nuclei of the helium atom are similar to the alpha particle. As a result, the alpha particle is a twice charged helium ion (He+2) with mass number 4 and atomic number 2.
When an alpha particle is discharged from an atom’s nucleus, the mother element loses two atomic units and four mass units.
Beta Rays
The inner nucleus releases very powerful electrons known as beta particles. They are light in weight and have a negative charge. The emission of a beta particle causes a neutron in the nucleus to divide into a proton and an electron. As a result, the nucleus’ electron is rapidly released. When opposed to alpha particles, beta particles have greater penetrating strength and are more easily absorbed by the skin. Even though their ionisation strength is limited, beta particles are harmful, and any contact with the body should be avoided.
Properties
The beta particle’s facile deflection in a magnetic or electric field demonstrates that it is composed of a flow of negatively charged particles. As a result, beta ray e/m values are equal to electron e/m values. As a result, the transition of a neutron into a proton occurs when a beta particle of mass 0 and charge one is ejected.
Gamma Rays
Gamma rays are waves that originate from the high-frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and have no mass. They have the most penetrating force. They are the most penetrating yet the least ionising, and it is quite difficult to keep them out of the body. Gamma rays have a lot of energy and can pass through solid concrete and weak lead
Properties
Another type of nuclear transition is discovered by Curies and Rutherford. A positron is ejected from within the nucleus during this process. As a result of the proton-to-neutron conversion, this ejection occurs
Conclusion
According to their qualities, three kinds of radioactive rays, alpha, beta, and gamma, emanate from radioactive elements in the radiation process. The magnetic and electric fields deflect alpha and beta particles, while gamma-rays have wave motion with very short wavelengths.
