b. radioactive half-life: the time a radioactive substance takes to lose half its radioactivity
through decay. Symbol T1/2
: the period of time it takes for a substance undergoing decay to
decrease by half.
c. radioactive series: a series of related atom types nuclides of radioactive isotopes, each
of which is transformed into the next by the emission of an elementary particle until a stable
nuclide results.
There are three such sequences, the thorium, the uranium-radium, and the actinium, and almost
all naturally occurring radioactive isotopes belong to one of them.
: the decay chain refers to the radioactive decay of different discrete
radioactive decay products as a chained series of transformations
Decay stages are referred to by their relationship to previous or
subsequent stages. A parent isotope is one that undergoes decay to form a daughter isotope.
The daughter isotope may be stable or it may decay to form a daughter isotope of its own. The
daughter of a daughter isotope is sometimes called a granddaughter isotope.
b. beta (β) emission: 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+). In electron emission, an electron antineutrino
is also emitted, while positron emission is accompanied by an electron neutrino. Beta decay is
mediated by the weak force.
: the emission of an electron by a radionuclide
Firstly, we would probably still be in WWII if we hadn't dropped the 2 atomic bombs. Both
of the 2 bombs used nuclear fission to cause a chain reaction. This chain reaction had so much
explosive power it destroyed buildings and incinerated people too close to the blast. And what
were the main ingredients to the bombs? Uranium and Plutonium (which are both radioactive).
Secondly, we can use radiation as a power source. Think of being able to use the power of
those nuclear bombs to power your house
And finally, we can use radiation for medical reasons. You can kill cancer cells with
radiation, as long as you are careful to not hit the victim of the cancer, as it can also harm the
person.