Thread: Radioactive decay

Does anyone know what the triggers radioactive decay ?

I.E Uranium into Thorium. (as an example)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_decay

Have you read that one?

an insertion of alpha beta or gamma rays I think. Is is this decay which is used to produce nuclear energy.

Yes I was reffering to the mechanism of decay in the particles themselves.

Lets say a radioactive element is in a compound with another element but they share a covalent bond. Is decay of the radioactive element still possible ? If it is, what happens to the oter element in the compound ?

Also, the half-life of Uranium is around 4 billion years, So lets say you had 1kg of Uranium. In 4 billion years 500 grammes would decay into thorium. But then, in another 4 billion years 250 grammes would decay into thorium. So doesnt that mean that initially the rate of decay was much quicker?

Lets say a radioactive element is in a compound with another element but they share a covalent bond. Is decay of the radioactive element still possible ? If it is, what happens to the oter element in the compound ?

yes it is possible and the result is most likly that the component is turned into something else

Also, the half-life of Uranium is around 4 billion years, So lets say you had 1kg of Uranium. In 4 billion years 500 grammes would decay into thorium. But then, in another 4 billion years 250 grammes would decay into thorium. So doesnt that mean that initially the rate of decay was much quicker?

the amount of atoms decaying were bigger in the begining yes

Does anyone know what the triggers radioactive decay ?

what triggers the decay to happen is the formula
dE*dT < h-bar/2
all of a sudden the atom gets energy to start the decay and it happens

Beta decay produces an electron and a proton from a neutron, does this mean that neutrons can be considered as just that?

Originally Posted by Megabrain

Beta decay produces an electron and a proton from a neutron, does this mean that neutrons can be considered as just that?

a neutron is a proton and electron?
mega please we have enough problems with mike :|

no, the neutron is composed of quarks, one of the down quarks is turned into a up quark and a electron via teh weak nuclear force in beta decay.
maybe down/up should switch places dont remember exacly

Zelos, I am positive I read this, I think it was from WIKI (which I don't usually trust), so thanks for putting me back on the rails mate. If I conme across the article again I'll point it out.


EDIT: found it...

From WIKI: -

In β− decay, the weak interaction converts a neutron (n0) into a proton (p+) while emitting an electron (e−) and an anti-neutrino (νe):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay

Guess I forgot the all important illusive neutrino..

In β− decay, the weak interaction converts a neutron (n0) into a proton (p+) while emitting an electron (e−) and an anti-neutrino (νe):

that is correct that is how it is, i aswell forgot the anti neutrino. but its quarks neutron is made up by, a up and 2 down if i remember right

What happens to the quarks then? (just to save me from reading 4 million pages...).

Originally Posted by Megabrain

What happens to the quarks then? (just to save me from reading 4 million pages...).

as i said, down becomes up + electron + anti-neutrino

From top to bottom I find that strangly charming..