Nuclear Chemist Interview Question:

Explain me radioactivity? Explain α, β and γ rays?

Submitted by: Muhammad

☛ a. The emission of radiation by uranium and its compound is an atomic phenomenon. It is independent of the chemical and physical state of the element. Such phenomenon is known as radioactivity and such elements are said to be radioactive.

☛ b. α rays: These rays consist of particles which are positively charged. If an a particle is emitted by the radioactive parent element then formation of the daughter element takes place which have atomic number less by 2 units and mass number less by 4 units.

☛ c. β rays: These rays consist of electrons. When the conversion of a neutron into proton takes place then an electron is ejected out, along with electron another particle is also ejected out which is known as anti-neutron. The mass of this anti-neutron in negligible. When a β ray is emitted by the parent element then the atomic number of the daughter is more by one unit than the parent element. However the mass number of both remains the same.

☛ d. γ rays: These rays are similar to electromagnetic radiation and possess very short wavelength. The daughter nucleus formed generally exists in the excited state. While returning to the ground state they generally emit its excess energy as γ-ray photon. Here the atomic number and the mass number of the daughter nucleus remains the same as of the parent nucleus.
Submitted by: Muhammad