Radioactivity, Alpha, Beta, Gamma Particles

 🧿 Radioactivity 🧿

➖The process of emission of particles from nuclei because of the nuclear instability; is known as radioactivity.

➖The substance that releases such energy/rays is known as radioactive substance.

➖The invisible rays released from such radioactive substance are known as radioactive rays.

➖Likewise, radioactivity is a nuclear phenomenon that happens (naturally) because of the nuclear instability of atoms.

➖In 1896 Henri Becquerel first observed the phenomena of radioactivity, but the term ‘radioactivity’ was coined by Marie Curie.

➖Marie Curie discovered the radioactive elements namely Polonium and Radium in 1898.

➖For her discovery, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize.

✅Radioactive Rays

➖After long years of experiment, Ernest Rutherford along with his colleague (Hans Geiger and his student Ernest Marsden), discovered alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays.

➖These rays emitted as the result of the disintegration of atoms.

✅Alpha (α) Particles

➖Alpha particles are usually composed of two protons and two neutrons, which are tightly bound together.

➖Alpha particles are being released during radioactive decay (or alpha decay) from the nucleus radio nuclides.

➖The alpha particles are identical to the nucleus of either normal helium atom or doubly ionized helium atom.

➖In comparison to other particles (i.e. Gamma and Beta), alpha particles are heavy and slow. Therefore, alpha particles have very small range in the air.

➖Because of slow speed, Alpha particles have very weak penetrating powers; these particles are even stopped by a thin paper sheet (see image given above).

➖Because of having the double positive charge, alpha particles are highly ionizing.

✅Beta (β) Particles

➖Beta particles are the fast moving electrons emitted by some radio nuclides during the radioactive decay (also known as beta decay).

➖Beta particles are of much lighter weight and carry a single negative charge.

➖Beta particles are rarely ionizing than the alpha particles.

➖Because of having lighter weight, beta particles can travel much farther than alpha particles; however, beta particles can be stopped by several sheet of papers or one sheet of aluminum.

➖Beta particles are negatively charged and get attracted towards positively charged particles.

✅Gamma (ү) Particles

➖Gamma particles are the bundle of high energy namely electromagnetic energy (photon) emitted by the radioactive elements during the radioactive decay.

➖Among all three particles (alpha, beta, and gamma), gamma particles are the most energetic photons.

➖Gamma particles, which are the form of electromagnetic radiation(EMR), originate from the nucleus.

➖The wavelengths of gamma are the shortest among all three.

➖Gamma particles have no charge and they are neutral; therefore, they are unaffected by magnetic and electric fields.

✅Uses of Radioactive Elements

➖Medical field (treatment of many diseases)

➖Industrial process

➖Energy production – Nuclear reactors