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Aspiring Girl
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Radioactive things radiate alpha, beta and gamma particles to achieve stability. As nucleus also emits these particles, can we say nucleus is unstable?
The "radioactive things" that emit alpha beta and gamma particles are nuclei. So, yes. (but not all nuclei are unstable/radioactive!)Aspiring Girl said:Radioactive things radiate alpha, beta and gamma particles to achieve stability. As nucleus also emits these particles, can we say nucleus is unstable?
Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of particles or energy from the nucleus of an unstable atom. This process occurs in order for the atom to become more stable.
An unstable nucleus can become stable through various processes such as radioactive decay, in which it emits particles or energy, or through nuclear reactions, in which it combines with other nuclei to form a more stable atom.
A nucleus can become unstable due to an imbalance in the ratio of protons and neutrons, or due to certain types of nuclear reactions that cause the nucleus to have excess energy.
There are three main types of radioactivity: alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons), beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle (an electron or positron), and gamma decay involves the emission of gamma rays (high-energy electromagnetic radiation).
No, not all radioactivity is harmful. Many common elements, such as potassium and carbon, have naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in small amounts. However, high levels of exposure to certain types of radiation, such as gamma rays, can be harmful to living organisms.