Radioactive Decay

Nuclear radiation involves the atomic nucleus which has strong attractive nuclear force of interaction between protons but short-ranged (10-15 m) and is about zero at greater separation.

If there is an imbalance in these forces, the system will eventually shake off the excess and enter a more balanced state leading to the creation of a new element.

REMEMBER:

• Too many protons:

Eject two protons and two neutrons as an alpha particle known as Alpha decay.

• Too many neutrons:

Beta decay of a neutron to a proton with the ejection of an electron and a neutrino.

• For excited nucleus:

Eject a gamma ray and settle into ground state. This spontaneous process called radioactive decay.

ALPHA DECAY:

A radioactive nucleus that undergoes alpha emission emits a helium nucleus, 42He. The remaining nucleus has two fewer protons and two fewer neutrons: the atomic number declines by two and the mass number by four.BETA DECAY:

In nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. In the case of electron emission, it is referred to as "beta minus" (β−), while in the case of a positron emission as "beta plus" (β+).
(click her to learn more about beta decay)