How do spontaneous nuclear fission processes occur?
1 Answer
Spontaneous nuclear fission can occur by the emission of alpha and beta particles. Other mechanisms involve positrons and gamma rays.
ALPHA PARTICLES:
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus. The heavier elements usually decay by alpha emission. For example,
BETA PARTICLES:
A beta particle is an electron. Nuclei that have too few protons can decay by converting a neutron to a proton and emitting a beta particle. For example,
POSITRONS:
A positron is the antimatter counterpart of an electron. Nuclei that have too many protons can decay by converting a proton to a neutron and emitting a positron. For example,
GAMMA RAYS:
Gamma rays are high-energy photons. When a nucleus emits an alpha or beta particle, the new nucleus may have excess energy. It can release this excess energy by emitting gamma rays.
Thus, thorium-234 becomes more stable by releasing gamma rays and a beta particle.