Which one of the following increases over time?Group of answer choicesthe decay ratethe number of parent atomsthe number of daughter atomsthe length of a half-life
Question
Which one of the following increases over time?Group of answer choicesthe decay ratethe number of parent atomsthe number of daughter atomsthe length of a half-life
Solution
The number of daughter atoms increases over time. Here's why:
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Radioactive decay is a process in which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation. This process transforms the parent atoms (the original unstable atoms) into daughter atoms (the product of the decay).
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As time passes, more and more parent atoms undergo radioactive decay, transforming into daughter atoms.
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Therefore, as time goes on, the number of daughter atoms increases.
The decay rate, the number of parent atoms, and the length of a half-life do not increase over time. The decay rate and the length of a half-life are constants for a given radioactive isotope. The number of parent atoms actually decreases over time as they transform into daughter atoms.
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Which of the following decreases over time?
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