What is a radioactive atom?

A radioactive atom is an unstable atom that has an excess of energy or mass in its nucleus. Due to this instability, the atom will try to reach a more stable state by undergoing a process called radioactive decay. During this process, the atom emits radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves.

Radioactive atoms exhibit specific properties that distinguish them from stable atoms. These properties include: 1. **Unstable nucleus**: A radioactive atom has an unstable nucleus with too many or too few neutrons compared to the number of protons. This causes a disruption in the balance of nuclear forces, leading to instability. 2. **Spontaneous decay**: Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process. It occurs without any external influence or trigger, and it's impossible to predict precisely when an individual atom will decay. 3. **Emission of radiation**: When a radioactive atom decays, it releases energy in the form of radiation. This radiation can be in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma particles, or electromagnetic waves.

Radioactive decay is the process by which a radioactive atom transforms into a more stable atom. This transformation involves the emission of radiation and can result in changing the number of protons and/or neutrons in the atom's nucleus. There are several types of radioactive decay, including alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. 1. **Alpha decay**: During alpha decay, the atom emits an alpha particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons (essentially a helium nucleus). This results in the atom losing two protons and two neutrons, transforming it into a different element. 2. **Beta decay**: In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, resulting in the emission of an electron (beta-minus decay) or a proton is transformed into a neutron, resulting in the emission of a positron (beta-plus decay). Beta decay results in the atom becoming a different element. 3. **Gamma decay**: Gamma decay occurs when an excited nucleus releases energy in the form of a high-energy gamma photon, without changing the number of protons or neutrons. This process typically occurs after alpha or beta decay when the nucleus is left in an excited state. By understanding the properties of radioactive atoms and the process of radioactive decay, we can conclude that a radioactive atom is an unstable atom with excess energy or mass in its nucleus that undergoes decay to become more stable and releases radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves.