enow.com Web Search

Search results

  1. Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
  2. Alpha decay - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_decay

    Alpha decay is by far the most common form of cluster decay, where the parent atom ejects a defined daughter collection of nucleons, leaving another defined product behind. It is the most common form because of the combined extremely high nuclear binding energy and relatively small mass of the alpha particle.

  3. Radioanalytical chemistry - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioanalytical_chemistry

    Alpha decay is characterized by the emission of an alpha particle, a 4 He nucleus. The mode of this decay causes the parent nucleus to decrease by two protons and two neutrons. This type of decay follows the relation: + [3]

  4. Radioactive decay - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_decay

    Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay.

  5. Geiger–Nuttall law - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geiger–Nuttall_law

    In practice, this means that alpha particles from all alpha-emitting isotopes across many orders of magnitude of difference in half-life, all nevertheless have about the same decay energy. Formulated in 1911 by Hans Geiger and John Mitchell Nuttall as a relation between the decay constant and the range of alpha particles in air, [ 1 ] in its ...

  6. Decay chain - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decay_chain

    Of these decay processes, only alpha decay (fission of a helium-4 nucleus) changes the atomic mass number (A) of the nucleus, and always decreases it by four. Because of this, almost any decay will result in a nucleus whose atomic mass number has the same residue mod 4. This divides the list of nuclides into four classes.

  7. Uranium-238 - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-238

    Uranium emits alpha particles through the process of alpha decay. External exposure has limited effect. External exposure has limited effect. Significant internal exposure to tiny particles of uranium or its decay products, such as thorium-230, radium-226 and radon-222 , can cause severe health effects, such as cancer of the bone or liver.

  8. Alpha particle - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particle

    Alpha particles, also called alpha rays or alpha radiation, consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium-4 nucleus. [5] They are generally produced in the process of alpha decay but may also be produced in other ways. Alpha particles are named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet, α.

  9. Valley of stability - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_stability

    Heavy nuclides are susceptible to α decay, and these nuclear reactions have the generic form, A Z X → A-4 Z-2 X′ + 4 2 He. As in β decay, the decay product X′ has greater binding energy and it is closer to the middle of the valley of stability. The α particle carries away two neutrons and two protons, leaving a lighter nuclide. Since ...