Radioactive Decay Basics
nAtoms are made up of neutrons, protons, and electrons
nThe nucleus of an atom consists of neutrons and protons
nThe number of protons in a particular nucleus is called
the atomic number
nThe sum of the neutrons and protons is the mass number.
nAtoms that have identical atomic numbers but different mass numbers are called isotopes
nOver time some isotopes are unstable and their nucleus undergoes decomposition to form a different nucleus
nThe decomposition rate is called the half-life