A by-product of some fission reactors is the isotope 94239Pu, which is an alpha emitter with a half-life of 24 000 years: Consider a sample of 1.0 kg of pure 94239Pu at t = 0. Calculate (a) the number of 94239Pu nuclei present at t = 0 and (b) the initial activity of the sample. (c) How long does the sample have to be stored if a “safe” activity level is 0.10 Bq?
Radioactive decay
The emission of energy to produce ionizing radiation is known as radioactive decay. Alpha, beta particles, and gamma rays are examples of ionizing radiation that could be released. Radioactive decay happens in radionuclides, which are imbalanced atoms. This periodic table's elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several of these kinds are stable like nitrogen-14, hydrogen-2, and potassium-40, whereas others are not like uranium-238. In nature, one of the most stable phases of an element is usually the most prevalent. Every element, meanwhile, has an unstable state. Unstable variants are radioactive and release ionizing radiation. Certain elements, including uranium, have no stable forms and are constantly radioactive. Radionuclides are elements that release ionizing radiation.
Artificial Radioactivity
The radioactivity can be simply referred to as particle emission from nuclei due to the nuclear instability. There are different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Along with these there are different types of decay as well.
A by-product of some fission reactors is the isotope 94239Pu, which is an alpha emitter with a half-life of 24 000 years: Consider a sample of 1.0 kg of pure 94239Pu at t = 0. Calculate (a) the number of 94239Pu nuclei present at t = 0 and (b) the initial activity of the sample. (c) How long does the sample have to be stored if a “safe” activity level is 0.10 Bq?
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