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The parent isotope is the original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form the daughter isotope. The daughter isotope is the stable isotope that is formed as a result of the radioactive decay of the parent isotope.
These terms apply to the decay of radionuclides. The parent isotope is 'the starting point' of a decay series that when it decays, by giving off radiation, changes into another element, or isotope of the original element (the daughter isotope). For example: When Uranium 238 (parent isotope) decays and gives off an alpha particle, it transmutes into Thorium 234 (the daughter isotope).
Radioactive dating involves measuring the ratio of parent to daughter elements in a fossil. The parent element undergoes radioactive decay over time to form the daughter element at a known and constant rate. By analyzing the relative amounts of parent and daughter elements in a fossil, scientists can calculate its age based on the rate of radioactive decay that has occurred.
The parent nucleus is the original nucleus before undergoing radioactive decay, which results in the formation of a daughter nucleus. The daughter nucleus is the nucleus that is produced as a result of the radioactive decay of the parent nucleus.
Products of radioactive decay are called daughter products because they are the result of the original radioactive parent element decaying or transforming into a new element. The new element produced is considered the 'daughter' of the parent element in this process.