Isotopes and Radioactive Decay

Isotopes and Radioactive Decay

1. Isotopes

   • atoms of the same element but different number of neutrons
     • different atomic mass
     • same charge
   • nucleus of each element is positive
     • protons are positive
     • neutrons are neutral
   • mass number is the number of protons + number of neutrons
   • most isotopes are unstable and reactive

2. Decay

   • Alpha
     • two neutrons + two protons
     • relative mass of 4
     • charge of +2
     • big heavy and slow moving
   • Beta
     • an electron
     • charge of -1
     • fast and small
     • a neutron turns into a proton when emitted
   • Gamma
     • after spitting an alpha or beta, atom might need to get rid of extra energy
       • it does this by giving off a gamma wave
     • no mass and no charge
       • just energy
   • Neutron
     • a nucleus might throw out a neutron if it contains a lot of them
     • num of protons stays same
     • different mass and new isotope