Radioactivity Flashcards
What is electron capture?
A radioactive decay process where an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton into a neutron and emitting a neutrino.
What happens to the atomic number during electron capture
The atomic number decreases by 1 because a proton is converted into a neutron.
What is alpha decay?
A radioactive decay process where an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
What changes occur in the nucleus during alpha decay?
The atomic number decreases by 2, and the mass number decreases by 4.
Give an example of branching decay.
Bismuth-212 (²¹²Bi) can decay via alpha decay to Thallium-208 (²⁰⁸Tl) or beta decay to Polonium-212 (²¹²Po).
What is branching decay?
A process where a radioactive nuclide decays through multiple pathways, producing different daughter nuclides.
What is a nuclide chart?
A graphical representation of nuclides organized by their number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N).
How is a nuclide chart used?
It helps identify stable and unstable nuclides, predict decay modes, and study nuclear reactions.
What is gamma decay?
The emission of gamma rays (high-energy photons) from an excited nucleus to reach a lower energy state.
Does gamma decay change the atomic or mass number?
No, gamma decay only releases energy, leaving the atomic and mass numbers unchanged.
What is beta decay?
A radioactive decay process where a neutron is converted into a proton (beta-minus decay) or a proton into a neutron (beta-plus decay), emitting an electron or positron.
What is emitted during beta-minus decay?
An electron (β⁻) and an antineutrino.
What is emitted during beta-plus decay?
A positron (β⁺) and a neutrino.
What are artificially produced radionuclides?
Radioactive isotopes created in laboratories or nuclear reactors through nuclear reactions.
Name a clinically useful radionuclide and its application.
Technetium-99m (⁹⁹ᵐTc) is used in medical imaging (e.g., SPECT scans).
