What are the three main types of radioactive decay?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-20T00:33:39

Well, there are four... here are simplified descriptions of them.

Emission of a helium-4 nucleus.

Example:

#""_(92)^(238) "U" -> ""_(90)^(234) "Th" + ""_(2)^(4) "He"#

This is favored for atomic number higher than #83#. Here the mass number drops by #4# and atomic number drops by #2#.

A neutron splits into a proton and electron and emits the electron.

#""_(0)^(1) n -> ""_(1)^(1) p + ""_(-1)^(0) e#

This is favored for an #N/Z# ratio too high. This is the only one where the atomic number increases by #1#.

POSITRON EMISSION

A nuclide emits a positron, i.e. an electron-sized proton.

Example:

#""_(6)^(11) "C" -> ""_(5)^(11) "B" + ""_(1)^(0) e#

This is favored for an #N/Z# ratio too low. This drops the atomic number by #1# for light nuclei.

A core electron absorbs into the nucleus and combines with a proton, forming a neutron.

#""_(1)^(1) p + ""_(-1)^(0) e -> ""_(0)^(1) n + "X-ray"#

This is favored for an #N/Z# ratio too low. This drops the atomic number by #1# but is favored by heavy nuclei.