Radioactivity

Todays chapter is all about 'Radioactivity' its very important in science exams

Radioactivity
Radioactivity is the change in the nucleus of the atom of an element
There are three different types of radioactivity
They are:

1. alpha [ ] radiation
2. Beta [ ] radiation
3. Gamma [ ] radiation
   When the nucleus emit these radiation the nucleus changes and a new atom of a different element is formed
   Alpha radiation
   1) It is giving out helium nucleus
   
   When this is given out the mass number of the nucleus decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2
   2) Its penetrating power is very low it can’t pass through even thin paper but a thin metal sheet can stop it.
   3) It is heavier than beta
   4) It is deflected by electric and magnetic field.

Beta radiation
1) One neutron in the nucleus changes to proton and electron and electron is given out as beta radiation
When this is given out the mass number of the nucleus does not change. The atomic number increases by 1
2) The penetrating power is higher than alpha particle. It can penetrate few centimeters of thin aluminum sheet but it can’t penetrate few centimeters of lead
3) It is light. It is deflected by electric and magnetic field