How Does Radioactive Decay Work

The process in which unstable atomic nuclei releases subatomic particles, is known as radioactivity. The phenomenon of radioactive decay is a process during which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and radiation. This loss of energy (referred to as radioactive decay) results in the parent nuclide transforming to an atom of a different type, called the daughter nuclide.

There are several modes of radioactive decay, which are as follows:

• Alpha Decay: In this mode of radioactive decay, an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus.
• Proton Emission: In this process, a nucleus emits a proton.
• Neutron Emission: In this process, a nucleus emits a neutron.
• Double Proton Emission: In this mode of radioactive decay, two protons are simultaneously ejected from the nucleus.
• Spontaneous Fission: In this process, the nucleus disintegrates into two or smaller nuclei and other particles.
• Cluster Decay: In this mode of radioactive decay, the nucleus emits a specific type of smaller nucleus, which is smaller or larger than an alpha particle.
• Beta Negative Decay: In this, a nucleus emits an electron and an antineutrino.
• Positron Emission: In this mode, a nucleus emits a positron and a neutrino.
• Electron Capture: In this mode a nucleus captures an orbiting electron and emits a neutrino.
• Double Beta Decay: In this mode, a nucleus emits two electrons and two antineutrinos.
• Electron Capture with Positron Emission: In this process, a nucleus absorbs one orbital electron and emits one positron and two neutrinos.
• Double Positron Emission: In this mode, a nucleus emits two positrons and two neutrinos.
• Isomeric Transition: In this the excited nucleus releases a high-energy photon.
• Internal Conversion: In this process the excited nucleus transfers energy to an orbital electron and it is ejected from the atom.

Radioactive decay, thus results in a reduction of summed rest mass, which is converted to energy, which is explained by the formula E=mc2. This energy is released as kinetic energy of the emitted particles. The radioactive decay rate or activity of a radioactive substance is characterized by three constant quantities, which are - the half-life of radioactive elements, mean lifetime and the decay constant.