Question

Which statements describe what is gained or lost during radioactive decay? Check all that apply. Atoms gain other atoms. Elements take in energy. Atoms lose smaller particles. Elements gain smaller particles. Energy and particles are released.

Answer 1

During radioactive decay ionizing particles and energy are released from the unstable atom.

Answer 2

The answer is;

• Atoms lose smaller particles
• Energy and particles are released.

In radioactive decay, large unstable isotopes (such as Uranium-283) decay into smaller more stable isotopes of different elements. In such nuclear decays, neutrons and radiation are released. The released neutrons are then used in the splitting of other unstable isotopes in the vicinity. Different isotopes have different half-lives which are the time take for the mass of a decaying element to decay by half.