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Chapter 15: Problem 14

Which type of radioactivity does not involve the emission of particles?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The type of radioactivity that does not involve the emission of particles is Gamma decay.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Radioactive Decays

Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are the three main types of radioactive decays. Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle (He nuclei), and Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle (electron or positron).
02

Identify Gamma Decay

Gamma decay is the type of radioactive decay where no particles are emitted. It essentially involves the emission of energy in the form of Gamma rays (high energy photons).
03

Conclude

So, the type of radioactivity that does not involve the emission of particles is Gamma decay.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Alpha Decay
Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay where an unstable atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and transforms into a new element. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, which is similar to a helium-4 nucleus. This process reduces the atomic number of the original element by two and the mass number by four, resulting in a new element.
  • Alpha particles have a relatively large mass and positive charge.
  • This causes them to interact strongly with matter and lose energy rapidly.
  • As a result, they have a very short range in air, usually just a few centimeters.
Because of their heavy and charged nature, alpha particles are easily blocked by a sheet of paper or even the outer layers of human skin.
However, they're highly dangerous if ingested or inhaled, as they can cause significant damage to biological tissue.
Beta Decay
Beta decay is another form of radioactive decay, where an unstable nucleus transforms by emitting a beta particle. A beta particle can be either an electron (\(\beta^-\)) or a positron (\(\beta^+\)). This occurs as the unstable nucleus seeks to achieve a more stable state.
  • In beta-minus decay, a neutron in the nucleus converts into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino.
  • Conversely, in beta-plus decay, a proton is converted into a neutron while releasing a positron and a neutrino.
The atomic number of the nucleus changes by one, but the mass number remains the same.
Beta particles are lighter and less charged than alpha particles, allowing them to penetrate further through materials. However, they can still be blocked by a few millimeters of aluminum or other similar materials.
Gamma Decay
Gamma decay is unique among the types of radioactive decay because it does not involve the emission of particles. Instead, this process releases energy in the form of gamma rays, a type of high-energy photon. When an unstable nucleus releases an alpha or beta particle, it might be left in an "excited" energy state.
  • To shed this excess energy, it emits gamma rays.
  • This process adjusts the energy level of the nucleus to achieve stability, without changing the atomic number or mass number.
Gamma rays are extremely penetrating and require dense materials like lead or thick concrete to be effectively blocked.
Despite their high energy and penetration ability, gamma rays do not change the nucleus's composition, making gamma decay solely a process of energy release.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is \({ }_{6}^{11} \mathrm{C}\), but not \({ }_{6}^{14} \mathrm{C}\), used for PET imaging?

Barley and wheat grains recovered from an ancient Egyptian burial chamber were analyzed for their carbon- 14 content. They contained an amount of \({ }_{6}^{14} \mathrm{C}\) equal to \(50 \%\) of that present in living plants. If the halflife of \({ }_{6}^{14} \mathrm{C}\) is 5730 years, how old are these grains likely to be?

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