Section 5: Radioactive Elements

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Section 5Radioactive Elements

• Page 158

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Radioactivity

• The nuclei of some elements isotopes do not hold
  together well. So they release fast-moving
  particles and energy to become stable.
• This process of releasing particles and energy is
  called radioactive decay.

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Types of Radioactive Decay

• During alpha decay, a nucleus loses an alpha
  particle, which consists of two protons and two
  neutrons.

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Types of Radioactive Decay

• During beta decay, a neutron inside an unstable
  nucleus changes into a negatively charged beta
  particle and a proton.

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Types of Radioactive Decay

• Gamma radiation has no charge and does not cause
  a change in either the atomic mass or the atomic
  number.

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Types of Radioactive Decay

• The three types of nuclear radiation were named
  based on how easily each one could be blocked.
  Alpha, beta, and gamma are the first three
  letters of the Greek alphabet.

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Using Radioactive Isotopes

• Tracers are radioactive isotopes that can be
  followed through the steps of a chemical reaction
  or industrial process.

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Radiation

• Click the Video button to watch a movie about
  radiation.

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End of Section Radioactive Elements