Whats the difference between spontaneous fission and radioactive decay?

[BTruesdell07]

I was doing some research on Technetium and I found out that it occurs naturally in uraninite from the spontaneous fission of U-238. But on the decay chain of U-238 I can't find Tc any where... So what's the difference between spontaneous fission and radioactive decay?

 

[chemisttree]

Spontaneous fission is to radioactive decay as arson is to fire.

 

[Blueshift5]

Spontaneous fission and radioactive decay are both processes by which a nucleus of an atom releases energy in the form of radiation. However, there are some key differences between these two processes.

Spontaneous fission occurs when a large, unstable nucleus breaks apart into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process. This process is spontaneous and does not require any external influence. It typically occurs in very heavy elements, such as uranium and plutonium.

On the other hand, radioactive decay is a process in which an unstable nucleus emits radiation in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma particles in order to become more stable. This process can occur in all elements, not just heavy ones, and is driven by the imbalance of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

In the case of Technetium, it is formed through spontaneous fission of uranium-238 in natural uranium deposits. However, it is not found in the decay chain of U-238 because it is a relatively short-lived isotope with a half-life of only 4.2 million years. This means that it decays into other elements relatively quickly and does not accumulate in the decay chain.

In summary, the main difference between spontaneous fission and radioactive decay is the mechanism by which the nucleus releases energy. Spontaneous fission involves the breaking apart of a large nucleus, while radioactive decay involves the emission of particles from an unstable nucleus.