Forum Technical Discussions      Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? Posted by: S.V.Swamy (PID_839), E-mail: Address, on September 26, 2008 at 09:05 : In Reply to: Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? posted by : S.R.G.PRABHU , E-mail: Address, on September 25, 2008 at 06:28 : Dear Prabhu, That was a good explanation but alpha rays are Helium nuclei, not atoms. Atoms are electrically neutral and have electrons to neutralise the positive charge of the nucleus. Since most of the mass is accounted by the nucleus, the mass of the atom and the mass of the nucleus can be taken as same in many situations. Beta particles are electrons emitted by the nucleus and theoretically there is a small loss of mass but for all practical purposes, the same is ignored. Gamma rays are photons of electromagnetic radiation and have no mass. Regards. Swamy ----------- Start Original Message ----------- : : The decay of a radioactive isotope is nothing but emission of alpha, beta and gamma rays. Alpha rays consists of helium atoms. Each helium atom emitted will contribute to the decrease in atomic number by two, because atomic number of helium is 2.Hence radioactive decay leads to decrease in mass of the isotope. : : : Hi, : : How the mass of an isotope like Ir-192 is reduced as the isotope decays? ------------ End Original Message ------------ Follow Ups: Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? N.Kuppusamy 11:16 Sep-28-2008 (0) Post a Followup: Name: E-Mail: Subject: Comments: ----------- Start Original Message ----------- : Dear Prabhu, : That was a good explanation but alpha rays are Helium nuclei, not atoms. Atoms are electrically neutral and have electrons to neutralise the positive charge of the nucleus. Since most of the mass is accounted by the nucleus, the mass of the atom and the mass of the nucleus can be taken as same in many situations. Beta particles are electrons emitted by the nucleus and theoretically there is a small loss of mass but for all practical purposes, the same is ignored. Gamma rays are photons of electromagnetic radiation and have no mass. : Regards. : Swamy : : : : The decay of a radioactive isotope is nothing but emission of alpha, beta and gamma rays. Alpha rays consists of helium atoms. Each helium atom emitted will contribute to the decrease in atomic number by two, because atomic number of helium is 2.Hence radioactive decay leads to decrease in mass of the isotope. : : : : : Hi, : : : How the mass of an isotope like Ir-192 is reduced as the isotope decays? ------------ End Original Message ------------ Optional Link URL: Example: "http://www....html". Alternative write "http://www.ndt.net/wshop/attach/filename.htm" if you transfered a filename.htm via FTP Page Title: is important! Optional Image URL: http://www....gif Attention! Please click the button only once. This may take a moment to process Forum Technical Discussions Help