What is radioactive decay?
Radioactive decay, also known as nuclear decay or radioactivity, is the process by which a nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting particles of ionizing radiation. A material that spontaneously emits this kind of radiation —which includes the emission of energetic alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays— is considered radioactive.
Types of radioactive decay
| Decays with emission of nucleons: | |
| Alpha decay | An alpha particle (A = 4, Z = 2) emitted from nucleus |
| Beta decay | |
| β decay | A nucleus emits an electron and an electron antineutrino |
| Transitions between states of the same nucleus | |
| Isomeric transition | Excited nucleus releases a high-energy photon (gamma ray) |
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