Radon-220 undergoes alpha decay with a half-life of 55.6 s. Assume there are 16,000 atoms present initially and make a table showing how many atoms will be present at 0 s, 55.6 s, 111.2 s, 166.8 s, 222.4 s, and 278.0 s (all multiples of the half-life). Now calculate how many atoms will be present at 50 s, 100 s, and 200 s (not multiples of the half-life). Make a graph with the number of atoms present on the y-axis and total time on the x-axis.

The concept of 'half-life' is central to grasping how radioactive substances decay over time. In nuclear chemistry, the half-life is the time required for half the atoms of a radioactive isotope to decay. For instance, if we start with 16,000 atoms of a radioactive isotope, after one half-life, we'd expect to have 8,000 atoms remaining. After another half-life, just 4,000 would be left, and so on.

It's important to note that the half-life of a radioactive isotope is a constant value. It does not change based on the amount of the isotope you have or the conditions it's under; this constancy makes it a powerful tool for understanding radioactive decay.

When it comes to solving problems on the half-life, as in our Radon-220 example, we use the formula:
\( N(t) = N_0 \times \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\frac{t}{t_{1/2}}} \)
Here, \( N(t) \) represents the number of atoms remaining after time \( t \), \( N_0 \) is the initial number of atoms, and \( t_{1/2} \) is the half-life of the isotope. By plugging in the time intervals into this formula, we can predict how many atoms will remain at any given moment, not just at multiples of the half-life.

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. There are several types of radioactive decay, including alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. Alpha decay specifically involves the loss of an alpha particle, which is essentially a helium nucleus composed of two protons and two neutrons.

When Radon-220 undergoes alpha decay, it emits an alpha particle and is transformed into Polonium-216, another element with its own distinct properties. This transformation comes with a decrease in both atomic number and mass number, a characteristic trait of alpha decay.

The rate at which radioactive decay occurs is random but predictable in large numbers, which is why we use statistical methods like the half-life to understand it. In practical applications, understanding radioactive decay allows us to estimate the age of artifacts through techniques like carbon dating, and it also plays a critical role in various fields such as medicine and energy production.

Nuclear chemistry involves studying the changes in the nucleus of atoms and the energy that these changes release. It's an area of chemistry that examines how subatomic particles like protons, neutrons, and electrons interact and what happens during various nuclear reactions like fusion, fission, and radioactive decay.

In our exploration of Radon-220's alpha decay, we deal with a miniscule, albeit significant, aspect of nuclear chemistry. Understanding alpha decay not only teaches us about the stability of atomic nuclei but also about energy release and the conversion of one element into another.

Nuclear chemistry has profound implications, from the treatment of cancerous tumors with targeted radiotherapy to the harnessing of nuclear fission for energy production in power plants. With advancements in technology and research, nuclear chemistry continues to be a promising field with the potential for innovative solutions to some of the world's pressing issues.