What is radioactive decay, and how does it relate to the concept of a half- life?

Radioactive decay is the process through which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation in the form of particles and/or energy. This process ultimately transforms an unstable nucleus into a more stable one. This energy emission causes the radioactive material's composition to change over time, both physically and chemically.

There are several types of radioactive decay, including alpha, beta, and gamma decay. 1. Alpha decay: This occurs when an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, reducing the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4. 2. Beta decay: In this process, a neutron is transformed into a proton (or a proton into a neutron), causing the emission of an electron (or a positron). This changes the atomic number by 1. 3. Gamma decay: Gamma decay happens when an unstable nucleus transitions to a lower energy state, emitting gamma radiation, which is a high-energy photon. In this decay, the atomic number and mass number remain unchanged, but the internal energy level of the nucleus is reduced.

The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. It is a measure of the rate at which a radioactive substance decays, and it is an important concept for understanding the behavior of radioactive substances over time.

The concept of a half-life is essential for understanding how radioactive decay affects substances. By knowing the half-life of a radioactive material, we can determine how long it will take for the material to decay to a specific fraction of its initial mass. This information is vital for various applications, including dating archaeological artifacts and rocks, determining the safety of nuclear waste disposal, and predicting the effects of radiation in medical treatment and other practices that involve exposure to radioactive materials.