The parent nucleus refers to an unstable atomic nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay or disintegration, emitting particles and energy to transform into a more stable configuration.
The daughter nucleus is the result of the radioactive decay of a parent nucleus. It’s formed after emission of particles or energy during the decay process, leading to a change in the atomic and/or mass number.
Radioactive disintegration is the spontaneous process in which an unstable atomic nucleus transforms into a more stable state by emitting radiation such as alpha or beta particles, or gamma rays. This emission is a characteristic feature of radioactive materials aiming to achieve greater stability over time.
Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. This reduces the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4. An example is the decay of uranium-238 to thorium-234: Uranium-238 (parent nucleus) → Thorium-234 (daughter nucleus) + Alpha particle (helium nucleus)
Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle from an unstable atomic nucleus. Beta particles can be either electrons (beta-minus, β-) or positrons (beta-plus, β+). In beta-minus decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton and an electron is emitted. In beta-plus decay, a proton becomes a neutron, and a positron is emitted. An example of beta-minus decay is the decay of carbon-14:Carbon-14 (parent nucleus) → Nitrogen-14 (daughter nucleus) + Beta-minus particle (electron)
Beta-plus decay involves the emission of a positron, which is a positively charged electron, along with a neutrino. It occurs when a proton is transformed into a neutron. An example is the decay of fluorine-18: Fluorine-18 (parent nucleus) → Oxygen-18
(daughter nucleus) + Beta-plus particle (positron) + Neutrino
These decay processes are ways for unstable nuclei to achieve greater stability by adjusting their proton-neutron ratios and releasing excess energy in the form of radiation.