1. Radio activity
1.1. What is it?
1.2. Alpha radiation
1.2.1. Eject particles that carry charge of 2+ and have a mass of 4 atomic mass units
1.2.1.1. Emission of an alpha particle causes:
1.2.1.1.1. Mass number of radionuclide to decrease by 4 units
1.2.1.1.2. Atomic number to decrease by 2 units
1.2.1.2. Which are the equivalent to a nucleus of Helium.
1.2.2. Alpha particles: are radioactive particles that is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
1.2.2.1. https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-ffadf895ba799edd16163c3332467572.webp
1.2.2.2. When radioactive particles goes through a kind of radioactive decay, this is known as alpha decay
1.3. Beta radiation
1.3.1. beta minus decay: emission of electrons (aka beta particles)
1.3.1.1. neutron is converted into a proton
1.3.1.2. beta particle with a charge of -1 is emitted
1.3.1.3. example: converting thorium into proactinium
1.3.2. medium ionization and penetration power
1.3.3. beta plus decay: emission of positrons
1.3.3.1. Proton converted into neutron causing ejection of positrons
1.3.3.1.1. Example:
1.4. gamma radiation
1.4.1. After alpha & beta decay, surplus energy is sometimes emitted.
1.4.2. Gamma rays are just photon
1.4.2.1. Example: It DOES NOT have a charge, in the equation NOTHING change.
1.4.3. Penetration power is the highest among the three, can be block by several cm of lead
1.4.4. Frequency of the rays are higher than 10^19 Hz and are in the range of 0.0005 to 0.1nm
1.4.4.1. Does not alter the atomic number or mass number of the nucleus.
1.4.5. They are a form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
1.4.5.1. Their energy is greater than 100 keV