A property exhibited by certain types of matter emitting energy and subatomic particles spontaneously. It is, in essence, an attribute of individual atomic nucleus.
Types of radioactive decay
Alpha decay
Beta decay
Negative beta decay (electron decay)
Inverse beta decay (electron capture)
Positive beta decay (positron decay)
Alpha decay
Disintegration of a parent nucleus to a daughter through the emission of the nucleus of a helium atom
Beta decay
Disintegration of a parent nucleus to a daughter through the emission of the beta particle
Negative beta decay (electron decay)
A proton-rich nucleus can reduce its nuclear charge by one unit by absorbing an atomic electron
Inverse beta decay (electron capture)
A proton-rich nucleus emits a positron (positrons are antiparticles of electrons and have the same mass as electrons but positive electric charge), and thereby reduces the nuclear charge by one unit
Positive beta decay (positron decay)
A proton-rich nucleus emits a positron (positrons are antiparticles of electrons and have the same mass as electrons but positive electric charge), and thereby reduces the nuclear charge by one unit
