Radioactive decay of an atom of carbon-14 yields a nitrogen-14 atom. A beta particle of radiation is emitted during the decay process. Click on image for full size (37 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Some materials are radioactive. They emit radiation. When an atom of a radioactive substance emits radiation, it is transformed to a new type of atom. This process is called radioactive decay.

There are many types of radiation that can be emitted during radioactive decay. Particle radiation includes alpha and beta particles as well as proton and neutron radiation. Electromagnetic radiation includes high energy gamma rays and X-rays.

Most elements come in various "versions", called isotopes, with different numbers of neutrons and slightly differing properties. In many cases, less-common isotopes of common substances are radioactive. For example, the rare isotope of carbon called carbon-14 is radioactive. It has 8 neutrons (instead of the usual 6) and radiates beta particles. When an atom emits radiation and undergoes radioactive decay, it may be transformed from one isotope to another, or it may become a different element altogether. When carbon-14 decays by emitting a beta particle, it becomes nitrogen-14. Isotopes that do not decay are said to be "stable".

Different radioactive materials take different amounts of time to decay. Scientists use the idea of a half-life to express this. For example, tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a half-life of 12.3 years. If we started with 100 kg of radioactive tritium, 12.3 years later we would have just half that - 50 kg! The other half would have become helium-3 via radioactive decay. During the 12.3 years after that, half of the remaining 50 kg of tritium would decay, leaving just 25 kg of tritium. After two half-lives, only one-quarter (half of half) of the original radioactive substance would remain - 25 kg out of the original 100 kg. The half-life of a radioactive material can be very short (less than a second) or very long (thousands of years) or anywhere in between.

This picture shows radioactive decay of a carbon-14 atom. The carbon atom gives off a beta particle of radiation. The carbon atom turns into a nitrogen atom. Click on image for full size (37 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Some materials are radioactive. They emit radiation. When an atom of a radioactive substance gives off radiation, it becomes a new type of atom. This process is called radioactive decay.

There are two main types of radiation that can be given off during radioactive decay. The first is particle radiation. It includes alpha and beta particles as well as proton and neutron radiation. The second is electromagnetic radiation. It includes high energy gamma rays and X-rays.

Most elements come in various "versions", called isotopes. Different isotopes have different numbers of neutrons. Some isotopes are radioactive. For example, the isotope of carbon called carbon-14 is radioactive. It has 8 neutrons (instead of the usual 6) and radiates beta particles. When an atom emits radiation it undergoes radioactive decay. It may be transformed from one isotope to another. It might become a different element altogether. When carbon-14 decays by emitting a beta particle, it becomes nitrogen-14. Isotopes that do not decay are called "stable" isotopes.

Different radioactive materials take different amounts of time to decay. Scientists use the idea of a half-life to describe this. The half-life of a radioactive material can be very short (less than a second) or very long (thousands of years) or anywhere in between. After one half-life, half of a sample of radioactive material has decayed. After another half-life, half of what was left decays.

This picture shows radioactive decay of a carbon-14 atom. The carbon atom gives off a beta particle of radiation. The carbon atom turns into a nitrogen atom. Click on image for full size (37 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Some materials are radioactive. They give off radiation. When an atom of a radioactive substance gives off radiation, it becomes a new type of atom. This change is called radioactive decay.

There are two main types of radiation that can be given off during radioactive decay. The first is particle radiation. It includes alpha and beta particles as well as proton and neutron radiation. The second is electromagnetic radiation. It includes high energy gamma rays and X-rays.

Most elements come in different "versions", called isotopes. Some isotopes are radioactive. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. Carbon-14 decays by emitting a beta particle. It becomes nitrogen-14, a different element! Some isotopes do not decay. They are called "stable" isotopes.

Different radioactive materials take different amounts of time to decay. Scientists use the idea of a half-life to describe this. The half-life of a radioactive material can be very short (less than a second) or very long (thousands of years) or anywhere in between. After one half-life, half of a sample of radioactive material has decayed. After another half-life, half of what was left decays.