Forum Technical Discussions      Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? Posted by: Joe Buckley    (PID_358), E-mail: Address, on September 28, 2008 at 19:33 : In Reply to: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? posted by : Nandesh , E-mail: Address, on September 24, 2008 at 18:22 : ----------- Start Original Message ----------- : Hi, : How the mass of an isotope like Ir-192 is reduced as the isotope decays? ------------ End Original Message ------------ I fear that the various answer may have served to confuse further. After the half life of an isotope the mass of that isotope present will have decayed to half of its original value. However as an isotope decays it is converted into one or more new elements, having a total mass almost exactly the same. The only overall mass loss will be the weight of alpha particles (Helium nuclei, relatively heavy approx 4 AM units) beta particles (electrons, approx 0.0005 units) and the mass equivalent of emitted energy. In practice this is likely to be a negligible amount, of the order of parts per million or less, so no measurable overall mass loss will be observed . Follow Ups: Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? N.Kuppusamy 06:50 Oct-06-2008 (2) Re: how mass is reduced as isotope decays? N.Kuppusamy 07:20 Oct-06-2008 (1) Hey Hey ! thargaity 12:41 Nov-28-2008 (0) Post a Followup: Name: E-Mail: Subject: Comments: ----------- Start Original Message ----------- : : Hi, : : How the mass of an isotope like Ir-192 is reduced as the isotope decays? : I fear that the various answer may have served to confuse further. : After the half life of an isotope the mass of that isotope present will have decayed to half of its original value. : However as an isotope decays it is converted into one or more new elements, having a total mass almost exactly the same. The only overall mass loss will be the weight of alpha particles (Helium nuclei, relatively heavy approx 4 AM units) beta particles (electrons, approx 0.0005 units) and the mass equivalent of emitted energy. In practice this is likely to be a negligible amount, of the order of parts per million or less, so no measurable overall mass loss will be observed . ------------ 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