Decay chain

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Decay chain

A decay chain, also known as a radioactive series, is a sequence of radioactive decay processes in which the decay of one radioactive isotope leads to the formation of another radioactive isotope, which then decays into another, and so on, until a stable isotope is formed. This process is a fundamental concept in nuclear physics and radiochemistry.

Types of Decay

In a decay chain, various types of radioactive decay can occur, including:

• Alpha decay: The emission of an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons).
• Beta decay: The transformation of a neutron into a proton with the emission of an electron (beta-minus decay) or the transformation of a proton into a neutron with the emission of a positron (beta-plus decay).
• Gamma decay: The emission of gamma radiation, which is high-energy electromagnetic radiation.

Common Decay Chains

There are several well-known decay chains, each starting with a different parent isotope:

• Uranium series (or Radium series): Begins with Uranium-238 and ends with Lead-206.
• Actinium series: Begins with Uranium-235 and ends with Lead-207.
• Thorium series: Begins with Thorium-232 and ends with Lead-208.
• Neptunium series: Begins with Neptunium-237 and ends with Bismuth-209.

Applications

Decay chains have several important applications:

• Radiometric dating: Used to determine the age of rocks and fossils.
• Nuclear medicine: Used in diagnostic imaging and treatment.
• Nuclear power: Understanding decay chains is crucial for managing nuclear reactors and radioactive waste.

Related Concepts

• Half-life: The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.
• Radioactive decay: The process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation.
• Isotope: Variants of a particular chemical element that differ in neutron number.

See Also

• Nuclear physics
• Radiochemistry
• Radiometric dating
• Nuclear medicine
• Nuclear power
• Half-life
• Radioactive decay
• Isotope