N2, O2, H2O, etc., versus U235? Everything is radioactive to some degree, right?
2006-09-26 18:01:54 · 2 answers · asked by presidentrichardnixon 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Is that really the case--if I were to have a pure sample of N-14, it would have exactly zero radioactivity?
2006-09-26 18:12:32 · update #1
Not "everything" is radioactive, although most things can have radioactive isotopes.
The most common "type" of Nitrogen atoms...the Nitrogen-14 isotope, is stable and not radioactive.
However, there are radioactive isotopes of Nitrogen/Oxygen/Hydrogen/....
For example, The "radioisotopes" as they are called of Nitrogen are listed on the web page here,
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/N/radio.html
The unstable isotopes of an atom decay. The decay process is radiation. The type of radiation and the half life depend on th particular isotope.
By 'isotope' I mean an atom of an element with a particular number of neutrons in the nucleus. All atoms of a specific type of element have a specific number of protons in the nucleus...that is what determines which element it is. However, the number of neutrons in the atom's nucleus can vary...this determines the isotope. You will often here people mention something called"Carbon-14 dating" in which the radioactive isotope of Carbon (Carbon-14) is used to measure the age of an item. Carbon-14 is radioactive, however, the most common form of Carbon, Carbon-12, is stable and non-radioactive.
2006-09-26 18:11:10 · answer #1 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What is the radioactivity of common elements like nitrogen, compared to highly radioactive elements.?
N2, O2, H2O, etc., versus U235? Everything is radioactive to some degree, right?
2015-08-18 17:46:43 · answer #2 · answered by Austine 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even gold, which deteriorates into lead. The worst bomb we ever considered building would have been a gold-bomb, but it was too dangerous
Radioactive variants of elements are called isotopes or radioisotopes. Read about it at wikipedia.
Examples are Deteurium--used to make a hydrogen bomb--and carbon-14, which is used to date things.
2006-09-26 18:12:12 · answer #3 · answered by ericnifromnm081970 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Molar mass equals mass divided by moles, and check to see which one has the same molar mass, I hope this helps i figure i didn't have time to explain because its due soon you said!
2016-03-15 00:56:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋