Radioactivity 1. Flashcards
1
Q
What is meant by a radioactive material?
A
Radioactive materials are a class of chemicals where the nucleus of the atom is unstable. They achieve stability through changes in the nucleus (spontaneous fission, emission of alpha particles, or conversion of neutrons to protons or the reverse).
2
Q
How does the radioactivity of a sample change with time?
A
The radioactivity decreases over a period of time but the process of decay is completely random. If we are given a sample of radioactive material, containing millions of atoms, we will not be able to predict when the decay will happen or how many of the atoms will decay.
