Modes of Radioactive Decay & Decay of Radioactivity

RADIOACTIVITY
&
Modes of radioactive decay
MS. VANSHIKA
COPMS, ADESH UNIVERSITY,
BATHINDA PUNJAB
Contents
 Radioactivity
was discovered in 1896 by scientists Henri
Becquerel and Marie-Curie, while working with
phosphorescent materials.
 Radioactivity and types
 Modes of decay
 Alpha
 Beta &
 Gamma
What do we mean by Radioactivity?
Radioactivity isis the

Radioactivity the spontaneous
spontaneous
disintegration of
disintegration of atomic
atomic nuclei….
nuclei….
Unit of Radioactivity
What is the SI Unit of Radioactivity?
The SI unit of radioactivity is Becquerel (Bq) and this term is
named after Henri Becquerel. Unit of radioactivity is defined as:
The activity of a quantity of radioactive material where one decay takes
place per second.
1 Becquerel = 1 radioactive decay per second = 2.703×10-11 Ci

Other Radioactivity Units:
There are usually three radioactivity units. An older radioactivity unit is the curie (Ci) and
the name has been taken from Pierre and Marie Curie.
It is defined as that quantity of any radioactive substance which gives 3.7 X 1010s-1
disintegration per second (dps).
Sometimes mill curie (mc) and micro-curie (mc) are also used.
Another unit is Rutherford (rd) and it is defined as the amount of radioactive substance
(For example :- URANIUM & THORIUM ) which gives 106 disintegrations per second
(dps).
1 curie = 3.7×1010 radioactive decays per second

1 becquerel = 1 radioactive decay per second = 2.703×10-11 Ci.
1 rutherford = 1.106 radionuclide decays per second
RADIOACTIVITY CAN OCCUR IN 2 WAYS;
1.NUCLEAR FISSION
2.NUCLEAR FUSION
Nuclear fission
 It is a reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller
nuclei. The fission process often produces gamma photons, and releases a
very large amount of energy even by the energetic standards of radioactive
decay.
 In short ; Fission is the splitting of a heavy, unstable nucleus into two lighter
nuclei
Nuclear fusion
 Nuclear Fusion reactions power the Sun and other stars. In a fusion
reaction, two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus. The process
releases energy because the total mass of the resulting single nucleus is less
than the mass of the two original nuclei. The leftover mass becomes energy.
 In short ; fusion is the process where two light nuclei combine together
releasing vast amounts of energy.
What is radioactive decay?
 Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable atomic
nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and
radiation transforming the parent nuclide atom into a different
atom called daughter nuclide .
 In short; Radioactive decay is the emission of energy in the
form of ionizing radiation.
The Radioactive Decay Law
 The rate at which a radioactive isotope disintegrates
is defined by the following DECAY LAW:
tt
N
N    1
1  tH
t
 ee 
   t
t    H
 Where N 00
N 2 
 2
 N:Number of atoms of a radioactive isotope at time t of
atoms at time zero
 λ:Decay constant
 N :Number constant (each isotope has different )
0
t :Half-life (each isotope has different half-life)
H
Radioactive half life; The time taken for the activity of any radionuclide to decrease
by 50% is called as radioactive or physical half life (t1/2). It is denoted by the symbol
‘t1/2’ and is usually expressed in seconds.
Half-Life Formula
It is important to note that the formula for the half-life of a reaction varies with the order of the reaction.
For a zero-order reaction, the mathematical expression that can be employed to determine the half-life is:
t1/2 = [R]0/2k
For a first-order reaction, the half-life is given by: t1/2 = 0.693/k
For a second-order reaction, the formula for the half-life of the reaction is: 1/k[R]0
Where,
t1/2 is the half-life of the reaction (unit: seconds)

[R0] is the initial reactant concentration (unit: mol.L-1 or M)
{k} is the rate constant of the reaction (unit: M(1-n)s-1 where ‘n’ is the reaction order)
MODES OF DECAY
1. ALPHA DECAY (Emission consists of helium nucleus)
2. BETA DECAY (Emission consists of electrons)
ARE 2 TYPES
A. BETA (–) MINUS PARTICLE
B. BETA (+) PLUS PARTICLE
3. GAMMA EMISSION (Photons having high energy are emitted)

ARE OF TWO FORMS
A. ISOMERIC TRANSITION
B. INTERNAL CONVERSION
Alpha decay
Unstable New Alpha

nucleus nucleus particle
When an alpha particle emits its nucleus, the process is called alpha
decay. The formula of alpha decay is given as:
E=(mi-mf-mp) c2
Where,
mi is the initial mass of the nucleus
mf is the mass of the nucleus after particles emission
mp is the mass of the emitted particle
The nucleus of helium is taken as the very stable alpha particle. It has a
group of two protons and two neutrons. For example, alpha decay of
uranium-238 is shown below-
Transmutation is referred to as the process of isotopes transforming into

an element of a stable nucleus.
An example of the form of decay occurs in uranium-238.The
equation represents what occurs is
Biological effects of Alpha
 Alphaparticles are not penetrating Their only biological

effects are to the surface of the skin, with the production
of radiation ‘burns’.
BETA DECAY
Unstable New Beta

nucleus nucleus particle
BETA DECAY ()
• Beta decay is a radioactive decay in which a beta ray is emitted from an
atomic nucleus. During beta decay, the proton in the nucleus is transformed
into a neutron and vice versa. If a proton is converted to a neutron, it is
known as β+ decay. Similarly, if a neutron is converted to a proton, it is
known as β– decay.
BETA DECAYS ARE 2 TYPES
A.BETA– MINUS DECAY
B.BETA+ PLUS DECAY

Beta (ß-) Minus Decay
 ß- emission is a process in which, essentially a neutron in the nucleus is

transformed into a proton and electron.
 Theelectron(e-) and the neutrino(v) are ejected from the nucleus and carry
away the energy released in the process as kinetic energy.
 To maintain the conservation of charge, the nucleus in the process also
produces an electron and an antineutrino.
 The electron is called a ß- particle
 The neutrino is a “particle“ having no mass or electrical charge
An example of this type of decays occurs in iodine-
131 nucleus which decays into xenon 131 with the
emission of an electron that is
Beta (β-) Minus Decay

Anti-neutrino
Daughter
Ca-40
Parent
K-40
0
1 
Beta Particle
Beta (ß+) plus decay
 Occurs in proton-rich nuclides
 A proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron and a positively
charged electron
 The positively charged electron or positron (ß+) and a neutrino are
ejected from the nucleus
 A positron is the antiparticle of an ordinary electron
 Afterejection it loses its kinetic energy in collisions with

atoms of the surrounding matter and comes to rest.
DECAY BY ß+ emission may be represented in standard nuclear
notation
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF DECAY OCCURS IN SODIUM-

22 WHICH DECAYS INTO NEON-22 WITH THE EMISSION
OF POSITRON
THE MASS NUMBER REMAINS THE SAME & THE ATOMIC

NUMBER DECRESES BY 1
ELECTRON CAPTURE
In this form of beta decay an inner orbiting electron is attracted
into an unstable nucleus where it combine with proton to form a
neutron
The reaction can be represented as;
This process is also known as k-capture since the electron is

often attracted from the k-shell of the atom
Biological effects of Beta
 The penetration of beta particles is rather greater

than alpha particles
hazardous only if a beta emitter is ingested or
inhaled.
GAMMA EMISSION
Unstable New Gamma

nucleus nucleus radiation
GAMMA EMISSION
Gamma – after  or  decay surplus energy is sometimes

emitted. This is called gamma radiation and has a
very high frequency with short wavelength. The atom
is not changed.
GAMMA EMISSION ARE IN TWO FORMS;
A. ISOMERIC TRANSITION
B. INTERNAL CONVERSION
A.ISOMERIC TRANSITION
A nucleus in an excited state may reach its ground or unexcited
state by the emission of gamma ray. (e.g. following the emission of an alpha or beta
particle).
An example of this type of decay is that of technetium-99m

B.INTERNAL CONVERSION
In Internal Conversion the excess energy of an

excited nucleus given to an atomic electron…
example; a k-shell electron
Example of this type of radioactive decay occurs in iron-
55 which decays into
manganese-55 following capture of an electron
The reaction can be represented as;
Mass number unchanged in this form of decay & that the atomic
number is decreased by 1
Biological effects of Gamma
Gamma-radiation affects the internal organs

of the body due to its high penetrating power.
Properties
EXCITATION & IONIZATION
 EXCITATION:- It occurs when the radiation excites the motion of the atoms or molecules, or
excites an electron from an occupied orbital into an empty, higher-energy orbital. Ionization occurs
when the radiation carries enough energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.
 IONIZATION:- Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that travels in
the form of electromagnetic waves (gamma or X-rays) or particles (neutrons, beta or
alpha). The spontaneous disintegration of atoms is called radioactivity, and the excess
energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation.

Y O U
TH ANK

Modes of Radioactive Decay & Decay of Radioactivity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Modes of Radioactive Decay & Decay of Radioactivity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Modes of Radioactive Decay & Decay of Radioactivity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RADIOACTIVITY

Radioactivity isis the

1 Becquerel = 1 radioactive decay per second = 2.703×10-11 Ci

1 curie = 3.7×1010 radioactive decays per second

t1/2 is the half-life of the reaction (unit: seconds)

3. GAMMA EMISSION (Photons having high energy are emitted)

Unstable New Alpha

Transmutation is referred to as the process of isotopes transforming into

 Alphaparticles are not penetrating Their only biological

Unstable New Beta

A.BETA– MINUS DECAY

B.BETA+ PLUS DECAY

 ß- emission is a process in which, essentially a neutron in the nucleus is

 Afterejection it loses its kinetic energy in collisions with

AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF DECAY OCCURS IN SODIUM-

THE MASS NUMBER REMAINS THE SAME & THE ATOMIC

The reaction can be represented as;

This process is also known as k-capture since the electron is

 The penetration of beta particles is rather greater

Unstable New Gamma

Gamma – after  or  decay surplus energy is sometimes

An example of this type of decay is that of technetium-99m

In Internal Conversion the excess energy of an

Gamma-radiation affects the internal organs

 IONIZATION:- Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that travels in

the form of electromagnetic waves (gamma or X-rays) or particles (neutrons, beta or

energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation.

You might also like