Radioactivity

What is Radioactivity?

Isotopes:  

          Isotopes are elements with more or fewer neutrons (same number of protons) 

Greek/English for: 

English: Iso                         Greek: Topos

Definition: equal                 Definition: place 

Iso Topos = Equal place or isotopes

Details:

There are 2 types of isotopes: 

Stable: Stable isotopes are the isotopes you find in the environment. Such stable isotopes of elements are always safe. such isotopes include Ozone, vanadium, etc.

Unstable: Unstable isotopes are the isotopes not found in nature. these isotopes, among others, are typically radioactive (unless decayed). This means that they are dangerous and definitely not found in nature.

Radioactive Decay:

Radiation: 

Radiation is when an unstable isotope gives off energy in the form of radiation.

There are three forms of radiation: 

Alpha: 

Alpha decay is when there are too many protons in the nuclei. Therefore, when fission occurs, the nucleus would emit radiation in the form of Alpha particles. 

Beta:
Beta-decay is basically the opposite of Alpha decay, instead of extra protons, Beta decay is when too many neutrons are in the nuclei. when fission takes place,  the nuclei radiates negatively charged particles called eta particles 

Gamma:
Gamma-decays is when there is too much energy in the nuclei. When Fission takes place, ... nothing happens because the nuclei doesn't radiate (there is no overall electric charge).

Isotope decay: 

               When Isotopes decay, they lose some atomic particles (neutrons, electrons, protons). By doing this, they could turn into completely different unstable elements/isotopes. For instance, Uranium isotopes would decay into Thorium, which would turn into Radium, and so on. This would last until we get to Bismuth, which would finally decay into Lead, a stable isotope. Notice that all Isotopes would decay continuously until they decay into stable isotopes, which won't decay anymore.