Page 478 - Chemistry eBook
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Transmutation and Radioactivity
• TRANSMUTATION: When the nucleus of an atom decays and the element changes into a different element with a different number of protons
• RADIOACTIVITY: When the nucleus of the unstable atom breaks down (decays) and emits particles and rays to become more stable
During transmutation, the element is
transformed into a different element.
477 © UNIT 12: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
