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How and why does atomic nuclear decay occur?

Arturo Auer ∙

Lvl 10

∙ 1mo ago

Updated: 2/7/2025

Atomic nuclear decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. This process can happen due to the imbalance of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, leading to the emission of alpha, beta, or gamma particles. The decay helps the nucleus achieve a more balanced state and reduces its energy level.

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Q: How and why does atomic nuclear decay occur?

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Why does nuclear decay occur and what are the factors that influence this process?

Nuclear decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. Factors that influence this process include the type of nucleus, the number of protons and neutrons, and external factors such as temperature and pressure.

How and why does atomic nuclear decay take place?

Atomic nuclear decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. This process can happen due to the imbalance of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, leading to the emission of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. The decay helps the nucleus achieve a more balanced state and reduces its energy level.

How do you do nuclear equations?

To write nuclear equations, determine the reactants and products involved in a nuclear reaction. Balance the mass numbers and atomic numbers on both sides of the equation to maintain nuclear conservation laws. Ensure that the sum of the mass numbers and atomic numbers are equal on both sides.

How is it possible for an element to decay forward in the periodic table that is to decay to an element of higher atomic number?

An element can decay forward in the periodic table through processes like beta decay, where a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton, increasing the atomic number by one. This transformation results in the emission of an electron (beta particle) and an antineutrino. By changing a neutron into a proton, the element transmutes into an element with a higher atomic number.

What is the spontaneous breakdown of the atomic nucleus called?

The spontaneous breakdown of the atomic nucleus is called nuclear decay. This process occurs when an unstable nucleus emits radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays to achieve a more stable configuration.

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Related Questions

Transmutation does not occur in which of these nuclear processes?

Transmutation does not occur in nuclear fission, where atomic nuclei are split into smaller fragments. Transmutation involves changing the identity of an atomic nucleus by altering the number of protons and neutrons it contains, which occurs in nuclear fusion reactions and radioactive decay processes.

Is it true that nuclear radiation comes from the decay of atomic nuclei?

Yes, that is correct. Nuclear radiation is the release of energy from the decay of atomic nuclei, which can take the form of particles (alpha, beta, neutrons) or electromagnetic waves (gamma rays).

What is the difference between a nuclear decay from a chemical reaction?

Nuclear decay involves the contents of the atomic nucleus, the protons and neutrons. Chemical reactions involve the electrons.

Why does nuclear decay occur and what are the factors that influence this process?

Nuclear decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. Factors that influence this process include the type of nucleus, the number of protons and neutrons, and external factors such as temperature and pressure.

Which forces govern atomic decay?

The forces that govern atomic decay are the weak nuclear force and electromagnetic force. The weak nuclear force is responsible for processes like beta decay, while the electromagnetic force is involved in processes like gamma decay. These forces act on the subatomic particles within the nucleus to cause them to change states and decay into more stable configurations.

What does the term nuclear reaction refer to?

A nuclear reaction refers to a process that results in the transformation of atomic nuclei, often involving the release of large amounts of energy. These reactions can occur naturally, as in the Sun, or artificially, in nuclear power plants or nuclear weapons.

Why does decay occur?

Radioactive decay is a natural process that occurs because a given atomic nucleus is unstable. The instability in the nucleus will eventually result in some kind of nuclear change (depending on the atom), and we call this radioactive or nuclear decay. Different radionuclides undergo different types of decay that include spontaneous fission, alpha decay and beta decay. Each of these is explained in separate questions, and they already have modestly good answers. You'll find links to those questions below, as well as links to some other Related questions.

How and why does atomic nuclear decay take place?

Atomic nuclear decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. This process can happen due to the imbalance of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, leading to the emission of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. The decay helps the nucleus achieve a more balanced state and reduces its energy level.

Does atomic mass stay the same?

No, atomic mass can vary for different isotopes of an element due to differences in the number of neutrons. The atomic mass on the periodic table represents the weighted average of all the isotopes of that element found in nature.

How does nuclear decay affect the atomic number and mass number of a nucleus that changes after undergoing decay?

Beta+ decay and electron capture causes the atomic number to drop by one. Beta- causes the the atomic number to rise by one.Proton emission causes the atomic and mass number to drop by one.Neutron emission causes the mass number to drop by one.Alpha decay causes the atomic number to drop by two and the mass number to drop by four.

What are the forms of nuclear decay?

what are the forms of nuclear decay

When is gamma rays emitted?

Gamma rays are emitted during nuclear reactions or radioactive decay processes when an atomic nucleus transitions to a lower energy state, releasing high-energy photons in the form of gamma rays. This emission can occur in various situations, such as in nuclear fusion reactions, radioactive decay of unstable isotopes, or high-energy astrophysical phenomena.

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