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Radioactive Elements, Thorium-234 and Nitrate, QUESTION, I am getting…
Radioactive Elements
Activity: Quantity of radioactive material
- Num of nuclear transformations per unit time in the radioactive material
- Disintegration per unit time
Radioactive Decay series - Collection of element formed from a single radioactive element by successive emission of alphaparticles
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Isotopes: Same atomic no. (p), different aromic mass (p&n).
Types
Stable Isotopes: Do not decay into another element over the time scale of the earth
- Used in shorter time scale (e.g., C 12 and C14)
Unstable Isotopes: Decay into another element
- Used in longer time scale (e.g., C14)
https://www.iitianacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CgTyOI5UEAEu5Zm.pngInstability of nucleus remedied by change in ratio of protons to neutrons --> Accompanied by emition of particle and energy => RadioactivityUnstable isotopes = Radio nuclides = Ridoactive Isotopes = Radioactive elements
Alpha,beta, gamma radiation
Caused by unstable atoms, which have either an excess energy or mass
Alpha Radiation—Occurs when an atom undergoes radioactive decay, giving off an alpha particle consisting of two protons, and two neutrons (essentially the nucleus of a helium-4 atom; atomic num 2 and atomic weight 4)
Interact wit matter, slow, travel few cm in the air
Unable to penetrate the outer layer of dead skin celss --> cause serious cell damage if a emiting substang is ingested in food or air
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Gamma Radiation
Does not consist of any particles, instead photon of energy emitted from an unstable nucless
Not removal of mass, can travel much faster and longer than B and a
Radionuclides (Three Types)
- Naturally occuring - Continusously prodused by cosmic ray bombardment from
- Na
- Manmade
Thorium-234 and Nitrate
Source: Uranium-238, they reach secular equilibrium in deep waterScavanging and deficits:
- highlu reactive-reactive (insoluble)
- in upper euphotic zone -> rapidlu adsorbed onto sinking organic and inorganic marine particle (phytoplankton/detritus) and exported downward creating measurable thorium-234 deficit to its parent Uranium-238
Complexation: readily complexes with inorganic ions including Nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate
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