Chapter 23. Nuclear Power
How do radioactive isotopes decay...?
Guiding Question 23.2
How do radioactive isotopes decay, and what types of radiation are produced? How dangerous is this radiation?
Why You Should Care
Radioactive decay is a natural process where isotopes release energy and particles. The more neutrons the atom has, the more unstable it will be. The more unstable the isotope, the more energy and particles will be released as radiation. Radiation is classified by the amount of matter and energy released (alpha releases the most matter and has the least energy, beta has less matter and more energy, and gamma has the least matter and the most energy). Gamma radiation is most dangerous with proximity, as it can instantly damage cells and cause DNA damage. Alpha radiation is most dangerous if it is inhaled or ingested, as its radiation damages cells over the long term.
This radiation is what powers reactors. Each step also creates large amounts of low-level radioactivity that will take millions to billions of years to become safe.
Test Your Vocabulary
Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Atoms that spontaneously emit subatomic particles and/or energy. | |
| The time it takes for half of the radioactive isotopes in a sample to decay to a new form. | |
| Hollow metal cylinders filled with uranium fuel pellets for use in fission reactors. | |
| Rods that absorb neutrons and slow the fission chain reaction. |
1.
How long would it take for half of radioactive polonium-210 to decay?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Infographic 23.6: Radioactive Isotopes Can Release One or More of Three Different Kinds of Radiation
5.
Which of the forms of radiation from decay has the MOST penetrating power?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
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