Are radioactive isotopes stable or unstable?

Stable isotopes do not decay into other elements. In contrast, radioactive isotopes (e.g., 14C) are unstable and will decay into other elements.

What happens when a radioactive isotope is unstable?

radioactive isotope, also called radioisotope, radionuclide, or radioactive nuclide, any of several species of the same chemical element with different masses whose nuclei are unstable and dissipate excess energy by spontaneously emitting radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

How do radioactive isotopes become stable?

Most isotopes become stable by emitting alpha particles, beta particles, positrons, or gamma rays. A few become stable by electron capture or by spontaneous fission. GAMMA RAYS: Thus, thorium-234 becomes more stable by releasing gamma rays and a beta particle.

What does stable and unstable mean in isotopes?

Stable isotopes are naturally occurring forms of elements that are non-radioactive. Unstable isotopes are atoms having unstable nuclei. Therefore, these elements undergo radioactivity. This is the main difference between stable and unstable isotopes.

How does a radioactive isotope become stable?

What is stable and unstable isotopes?

What makes radioactive elements unstable?

Why some elements are radioactive (unstable). When the atoms of an element have extra neutrons or protons it creates extra energy in the nucleus and causes the atom to become unbalanced or unstable.

What is an unstable radioactive isotope Nova?

Unlike the other natural isotopes of carbon, carbon-14 is unstable. Over time, its atoms begin to deteriorate. One of its neutrons turns into a proton and spits out an electron. Now, with seven protons instead of six, it’s turned into nitrogen. That process is called radioactive decay.

How unstable isotopes become stable?

Most isotopes become stable by emitting alpha particles, beta particles, positrons, or gamma rays. A few become stable by electron capture or by spontaneous fission. GAMMA RAYS: When a nucleus emits an alpha or beta particle, the new nucleus may have excess energy.

What does unstable isotope mean?

An unstable isotope is one that does undergo spontaneous nuclear decay. Unstable isotopes are also referred to as radioactive isotopes, or radiosotopes, or radioactive nucleides, or radionucleides.

How do unstable isotopes become stable?

What makes an isotope stable or unstable?

Usually, what makes an isotope unstable is the large nucleus. If a nucleus becomes larger enough from the number of neutrons, since the neutron count is what makes isotopes, it will be unstable and will try to ‘shed’ its neutrons and/or protons in order to achieve stability.

Why are some isotopes more stable than others?

Some isotopes are stable, but others are radioactive. An isotope will be radioactive if its nuclei are unstable. Large atomic nuclei, with more than 93 protons and their associated complement of neutrons, are inherently unstable. Uranium and plutonium are examples of such elements.

What are unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit radiation?

Radioactive isotope, also called radioisotope, radionuclide, or radioactive nuclide, any of several species of the same chemical element with different masses whose nuclei are unstable and dissipate excess energy by spontaneously emitting radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

What are the harmful effects of radioactive isotopes?

Effects of Radioactive Isotopes in Human Body. The bone marrow that does not get a higher dose can still produce the red blood cells, while at a sufficiently high dose it will occur a permanent damage in bone marrow and will lead to death (lethal dose 3 – 5 sv). As a result of suppression of bone marrow activity,…