Radiation

[Luminol]

I have a question about the atom when it releases radiation. I know when radiation is released it is released in the form of a helium nucleus, an electron or as part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When an atom ejects an alpha or beta particle it loses or gains protons...so my question is what happens to the atom's electrons in the electron shell? I'm guessing that if a beta particle is released and a neutron is changed into a proton that there must be another electron that comes from somewhere...and the opposite for an alpha particle. Does anyone know about the electrons? Every source that I have never mentions the electrons...they just say that protons (and neutrons) are gained or lost...but nothing about electrons.

[swansont]

I have a question about the atom when it releases radiation. I know when radiation is released it is released in the form of a helium nucleus, an electron or as part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When an atom ejects an alpha or beta particle it loses or gains protons...so my question is what happens to the atom's electrons in the electron shell? I'm guessing that if a beta particle is released and a neutron is changed into a proton that there must be another electron that comes from somewhere...and the opposite for an alpha particle. Does anyone know about the electrons? Every source that I have never mentions the electrons...they just say that protons (and neutrons) are gained or lost...but nothing about electrons.

 

The orbital electrons are ignored in the discussions, but the atom will eventually lose or gain any extra electrons necessary. When discussing the behavior of the nucleus in the decay, the atomic electrons are basically irrelevant.

 

In the act of the decay, extra electrons may be stripped from the parent atom. So you don't know the exact charge state of the daughter. But, as overall charge is conserved, electrons will eventually be available to form a neutral atom.

[Sorcerer]

The orbital electrons are ignored in the discussions' date=' but the atom will eventually lose or gain any extra electrons necessary. When discussing the behavior of the nucleus in the decay, the atomic electrons are basically irrelevant.

 

In the act of the decay, extra electrons may be stripped from the parent atom. So you don't know the exact charge state of the daughter. But, as overall charge is conserved, electrons will eventually be available to form a neutral atom.[/quote']

 

Where do the electrons come from? Are there spare electrons drifting around waiting to de-ionise stuff?? Surely ions can be stable for long periods.

[YT2095]

Where do the electrons come from? Are there spare electrons drifting around waiting to de-ionise stuff?? Surely ions can be stable for long periods.

LOL, I`m already in PM with Swansont regarding this particular line of questioning, and with his permission I`ll paste them into here a bit later.

 

the electrons come from the decay, example Uranium will EVENTUALY become Lead, lead as you may already know has less electrons than Uranium, so as it decays into Lead, the electrons are "Free". and THAT`s where they come from

 

my question was what happns to them when free?

 

but for the now, that should help answer your question

[VendingMenace]

Where do the electrons come from? Are there spare electrons drifting around waiting to de-ionise stuff?? Surely ions can be stable for long periods.

 

 

Well...yes and no.

 

Yes, the ions can be stable for a long time -- provided that they do not encounter any other chemical species wich will oxidize/reduce them. So in a vacume ions produced by nuclear decay prolly do stick around for a long time. But here on the green hills of earth, they are most likely oxidized/reduced rather quickly. At least that would be what i would suppose would happen.

[swansont]

Where do the electrons come from? Are there spare electrons drifting around waiting to de-ionise stuff?? Surely ions can be stable for long periods.

 

The electrons were either already there or created in the decay.