Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation, leading to the transformation of the original atom into a different element or a different isotope of the same element. This process occurs spontaneously and is characterized by a specific half-life, which is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Radioactive Decay

Radioactive decay

unstable atomic nucleus

emitting radiation

transformation of the original atom

different element

different isotope

A spontaneous process is a physical or chemical change that occurs without the need for external energy input, driven by an increase in entropy and a decrease in free energy. These processes tend to move towards equilibrium, where the system's energy is minimized and disorder is maximized.

Spontaneous Process

specific half-life

time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms

Sample decay

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