When a radioisotope decays , does it always produce another isotope of the same element? Give reason please?

Answer 1

Some radionuclides decay only by gamma emission. Example: Ba-137m decays by release of a gamma and becomes Ba-137. That is the same element (same number of protons).

Some decay by beta minus emission. Example: Cs-137 decays by beta minus and becomes Ba-137. In this case the mass remains the same but a neutron has changed to a proton. Since that makes the proton number go up, it has transmuted to a different element.

Some decay by beta plus emission. There the mass remains the same but the number of protons goes down. So that is a different element.

And some nuclides decay by alpha emission. There the atomic weight decreases by four (two protons + 2 neutrons) and the atomic number deceases by two. So there too, the element has changed.

Particulate emission from the nucleus involves a change both in mass and atomic number. So the answer is NO.

Answer 2

It sounds like you are dealing with beta decay, which is a neutron turning into a proton which stays, plus an electron and a neutrino which zip off.

Now, you are down one neutron, but up one proton from where you began. Elements are DEFINED by how many protons they have, so you have changed elements here.

Isotopes have to do with how many neutrons you have in the nucleus. IF you were able to pull the extra proton out, you would have a different isotope of the same element, but with a different number of protons, you have a whole different element.

JM

Answer 3

No. In fact, it never produces another isotope of the same element. If it throws an alpha particle, the result is two atomic numbers lower, and four nucleons lighter, than the original. If it throws a beta particle, the result is one atomic number higher (but the same atomic mass) as the original. If it throws a positron, or decays by k-electron capture, the result is one atomic number lower (but the same atomic mass) as the original. The only radioactive decay which changes neither number nor mass is gamma radiation.

Answer 4

Here's what I found for this one closed, I hope it's what you're lookin for.

The nucleus of a radioisotope undergoes changes by breaking down into a more stable form. It decays over a period of time into a new element. The product of the radioactive decay is called a daughter atom.

Answer 5

Radioactive elements can decay into other elements. An isotope differs in the number of neutrons. There are several types of radioactive decay...some deal with the loss of neutrons...other deal with protons. If your protons are decaying, then you would be changing the actual element with every decay.

Answer 6

If it loses a proton, it becomes a different element.
If it loses a neutron, it becomes another isotope of the same element.

Usually both processes are happening at the same time with radioisotopes

Answer 7

no it does not as it decays it looses atomic mass there by turning into another element. for instance as U238 decays eventually after many million years it becomes Pb

Answer 8

is it no