what is radioactive decay?

Answer 1

Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei emit subatomic particles (radiation). Decay is said to occur in the parent nucleus and produces a daughter nucleus. This is a random process, i.e. it is impossible to predict when an atomic nucleus will decay or which nuclei in a sample will.
The trefoil symbol is used to indicate radioactive material. The Unicode encoding of this symbol is U+2622 (☢).
The trefoil symbol is used to indicate radioactive material. The Unicode encoding of this symbol is U+2622 (☢).

The SI unit for measuring radioactivity is the becquerel (Bq). If a quantity of radioactive material produces one decay event per second, it has an activity of one Bq. Since any reasonably-sized sample of radioactive material contains many atoms, one becquerel is a tiny level of activity; numbers on the order of gigabecquerels are seen commonly. For example the curie, which was originally defined as the radioactivity of one gram of pure radium, is 37 gigabecquerels (GBq).
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Answer 2

What Is Radioactive Decay

Answer 3

Some atoms have nuclei that are too big, contain too many neutrons or too much nuclear energy. Those atoms tend to a lower nuclear energy level by either releasing particles (Alpha, Beta) or energy( usually in the form of gamma rays). When this happens the nucleus is said to have decayed. This causes the atom to change. In the case of alpha emission, the atomic mass and atomic number changes. In the case of beta emission, the atomic number increases as a neutron is converted to a proton. Radioactive decay is a random event with regards to a single atom but has a reaction rate that is classified as 'first order'. Each radioactive substance has a specific half-life. A period of time during which 1/2 of a same decays. Say a substance has a half life of 5600 years. After 5600 years only half of the original substance would still exist, the other half would be converted to another substance or one with less energy in the nucleus. (In another 5600 years, half of the sample that remained would decay leaving you with 1/4 of the amount that you originally start with.)

Answer 4

The magnitude of radioactivity in any radioactive substance will reduce in time.

This is called radioactive decay, and there will be a percentage element and a time element. So they might say something will be 50% of its original radioactivity in 100 years.

Answer 5

Radioactive decay is the spontaneous and random decay of unstable nuclei by emitting radioactive radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma so that a more stable state of the nuclei can be achieved.

Answer 6

Decay that is radioactive

Answer 7

Radiocative decay occurs when a relatively unstable isotope of an element emits a particle or particles (ignore for now the wave/particle duality nature of light) to become a more stable isotope. The de cay may invole the emission of alpha , beta or gamma emissions, each of which have different properties, including their ability to travel through different materials.

Answer 8

Radioactive decay is a chemical process that results in a principal organ (nuclei) splitting up to smaller pieces...chemically: an element emmits em particles to create new element(s)

Answer 9

when a radioactive material starts decaying,

Answer 10

Hehehe