Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into a number of lighter nuclei with the liberation of a large amount of energy. For example, when uranium 235 is bombarded with slow moving neutrons, it breaks up into two light-weight atoms barium 141...

Transuranium Elements

At present we are aware about 118 elements. Out of these 118 elements, first 92 elements i.e. the elements up to uranium are found in nature. This means that elements from Hydrogen (having atomic number 1) to Uranium (having atomic number 92) are naturally occurring...

Radioactive Decay

The phenomenon of radioactivity involves the release of alpha, beta and gamma rays by the disintegration of a heavy nucleus. When a radioactive substance emits alpha or beta particles it changes into other element. The process of conversion of one element into another...

Radioactive Radiation

The radioactive rays are of three types: Alpha rays Beta rays Gamma rays Nature and Characteristics of Alpha RaysThe alpha rays consist of very small positively charged particles called alpha particles. The alpha particles may be considered as helium nuclei because...

Radioactivity

The phenomenon of radioactivity was discovered by Henry Becquerel in 1896. It may be defined as the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of high energy radiations (alpha rays, beta rays and gamma rays) from certain heavy elements by disintegration of their heavy nuclei....