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Chapter 21: Problem 31

What is the difference between radioactive decay and nuclear transmutation?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process where an unstable nucleus loses energy, resulting in a different atom. Nuclear transmutation can be spontaneous or induced, and results in the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another.

Step by step solution

01

Define Radioactive Decay

Radioactive decay is a natural process where an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. An atom with unstable nucleus will spontaneously decompose to form a different atom, typically accompanied by emission of particles or energy in the form of gamma rays.
02

Define Nuclear Transmutation

Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one chemical element or an isotope into another. This occurs naturally due to radioactive decay, or artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators, where induced nuclear reactions are made to occur that would not ordinarily happen.
03

Highlight the Differences

The main difference between the two processes is that radioactive decay happens spontaneously in unstable atoms, while nuclear transmutation can be induced or occurs naturally and leads to the conversion of one element or isotope into another.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How does a hydrogen bomb work?

Tritium contains one proton and two neutrons. There is no proton-proton repulsion present in the nucleus. Why, then, is tritium radioactive?

Why do heavy elements such as uranium undergo fission while light elements such as hydrogen and lithium undergo fusion?

Describe, with appropriate equations, nuclear processes that lead to the formation of the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn. (Hint: Helium is formed from radioactive decay, neon is formed from the positron emission of \({ }^{22} \mathrm{Na}\), the formation of \(\mathrm{Ar}\), Xe, and \(\mathrm{Rn}\) are discussed in the chapter, and \(\mathrm{Kr}\) is produced from the fission of \(\left.{ }^{235} \mathrm{U} .\right)\)

Cobalt- 60 is an isotope used in diagnostic medicine and cancer treatment. It decays with \(\gamma\) ray emission. Calculate the wavelength of the radiation in nanometers if the energy of the \(\gamma\) ray is \(2.4 \times 10^{-13} \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{photon}\)
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