NUCLEAR

MEDICINE

Alpha Decay

During an alpha decay, a nucleus is able to reach a more stable

state be allowing 2 protons and 2 neutrons to leave the nucleus.
This will result in a smaller nucleus, which is often the more stable
arrangement. Because 2 protons and 2 neutrons are really just
helium-4, the particle that is emitted is really helium. Because this
helium is not just regular helium floating around in the air, but is
born from a nuclear decay, we usually don't call it a helium
atom. Instead we call it an alpha particle. Alpha particles come
out of the nucleus as just nucleons without any electrons. Each
alpha particle has a charge of +2e . The atom that originally went
through the alpha decay has just lost some of its nucleons. That
must change the element somehow. Actually pretty easy to figure
out what will happen as long as we apply the conservation of
nucleons. The conservation of the nucleons is the total number of
nucleons must remain the same before and after a nuclear decay
action.
Alpha decay process can most simply be described like
this:
1) The nucleus of an atom splits into two parts.
2) One of these parts (the alpha particle) goes zooming off into
space.
3) The nucleus left behind has its atomic number reduced by 2
and its mass number reduced by 4 (that is, by 2 protons and 2
neutrons).

Nuclear condition: For the spontaneous emission of alpha

particle from a nucleus, the nuclide must have an atomic mass
number greater than 150 and atomic number greater than 82.
The nucleus must also have too few neutrons for the number of

protons, a higher neutron, proton ratio would be required to

produce nuclear stability.

Beta Decay
In radioactive nuclei with too many neutrons, a neutron can be
converted into an electron, called beta particle. Beta particles ()
have a higher penetration power than alpha particles (they are
able to pass through thicker materials such as paper).
During beta decay, the number of neutrons in the atom decreases
by one, and the number of protons increases by one. Effectively, a
neutron was converted into a proton in the decaying nucleus, in
the process releasing a beta particle. Since the number of protons
before and after the decay is different, the atom has changed into
a different element.
Beta minus decay process can most simply be described
like this:
1) A neutron inside the nucleus of an atom breaks down, changing
into a proton.
2) It emits an electron and an anti-neutrino more on this later
which go zooming off into space.
3) The atomic number goes up by one and mass number remains
unchanged.
Here is an example of a beta decay equation:

Nuclear Condition: the nucleus must be disturbed by the

presence of too many neutrons or the ratio of neutrons to protons
in negatron emitting nuclide is greater than that required for
maximum stability of the nucleus.

Beta Plus Decay process can most simply be described like

this:
1. Something inside the nucleus of an atom breaks down, which
causes a proton to become a neutron.
2) It emits a positron and a neutrino which go zooming off into
space.
3) The atomic number goes down by one and mass number
remains unchanged.
Here is an example of a positron decay equation:

Nuclear Condition: the nucleus must be disturbed by the

presence of too few neutrons or positron emitting nuclides
possess n/p ratios lower than those required for maximum
stability
Electron Capture
Electron capture is a process in which the proton-rich nucleus of
an electrically neutral atom absorbs an inner atomic electron,
usually from the K or L electron shell. This process thereby
changes a nuclear proton to a neutron and simultaneously causes
the emission of an electron neutrino. The daughter nuclide, if it is
in an excited state, then transitions to its ground state. Usually,
a gamma ray is emitted during this transition, but nuclear deexcitation may also take place by internal conversion.

Electron capture is not like any other decay - alpha, beta, or

position. All other decays shoot something out of the nucleus. In
electron capture, something enters the nucleus.

Electron capture process can most simply be described

like this:
1) An electron from the closest energy level falls into the nucleus,
which causes a proton to become a neutron.
2) A neutrino is emitted from the nucleus.
3) Another electron falls into the empty energy level and so on
causing a cascade of electrons falling. One free electron, moving
about in space, falls into the outermost empty level.
4) The atomic number goes down by one and mass number
remains unchanged.
Here is an example of a electron capture equation:

Gamma Decay
Some decay reactions release energy in the form of
electromagnetic waves called gamma rays. Gamma radiation ()
is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, just like visible light.
However, unlike visible light, humans cannot see gamma rays,
because they have a much higher frequency and energy than
visible light. Gamma radiation has no mass or charge. This type of
radiation is able to penetrate most common substances,
including metals. The only substances that can absorb this
radiation are thick lead and concrete.
Gamma decay reactions occur if the energy of the radioisotope's
nucleus is too high, and the resulting atomic number and atomic
mass remain unchanged during the course of the reaction.

Radionuclides undergoing Beta plus decay and

Gamma ray emission.

Radionuclides undergoing bet plus decay

Radiouclides that are considered gamma ray emitted:

Calcium 47
Cobalt 60
Krypton - 85

Nuclides that are

Iodine-131
Barium-140
Cesium-137
Lanthanum-140