Radioactive elements decay in one of three ways:
A nucleus can eject 2 protons+2 neutrons (an alpha particle) and transform into a less massive element [alpha decay]
A neutron can turn into a proton+electron. The electron leaves [beta decay] and the atomic number goes up by 1.
Fission -- the nucleus splits into two new (smaller) atoms.
Gamma rays (neutrally charged) can also be emitted from various radioactive
elements.
Bettelheim et al.
In class exercise: Explain what's going on in this
figure.
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