• Home
  • Download PDF
  • Order CD-ROM
  • Order in Print
Internal Conversion
Figure 9 Types of Radioactive Decay Relative to the Line of Stability

Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory Volume 1 of 2
Page Navigation
  27    28    29    30    31  32  33    34    35    36    37  
Atomic and Nuclear Physics DOE-HDBK-1019/1-93 MODES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY Rev. 0 Page 27 NP-01 Decay Chains When an unstable nucleus decays, the resulting daughter nucleus is not necessarily stable.  The nucleus resulting from the decay of a parent is often itself unstable, and will undergo an additional decay.  This is especially common among the larger nuclides.   It is possible to trace the steps of an unstable atom as it goes through multiple decays trying to achieve  stability.    The  list  of  the  original  unstable  nuclide,  the  nuclides  that  are  involved  as intermediate steps in the decay, and the final stable nuclide is known as the decay chain.  One common method for stating the decay chain is to state each of the nuclides involved in the standard X format.  Arrows are used between nuclides to indicate where decays occur, with the type of decay A Z indicated  above  the  arrow  and  the  half-life  below  the  arrow.    The  half-life  for  decay  will  be discussed in the next chapter.   Example: Write the decay chains for rubidium-91 and actinium-215.  Continue the chains until a stable nuclide or a nuclide with a half-life greater than 1 x 10  years is reached. 6 Solution: Predicting Type of Decay Radioactive nuclides tend to decay in a way that results in a daughter nuclide that lies closer to the line of stability.  Due to this, it is possible to predict the type of decay that a nuclide will undergo based on its location relative to the line of stability on the Chart of the Nuclides. Figure 9 illustrates the type of decay nuclides in different regions of the chart will typically undergo. Nuclides  that  are below and to the right of the line of stability will usually undergo     decay. - Nuclides that are above and to the left of the line of stability will usually undergo either      decay or + electron capture.  Most nuclides that will undergo     decay are found in the upper right hand region of the chart.  These are general rules that have many exceptions, especially in the region of the heavy nuclides.







Western Governors University

Privacy Statement
Press Release
Contact

© Copyright Integrated Publishing, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Design by Strategico.