Radiation Safety Practice Exam

What best describes a daughter product of nuclear decay?

1. It is always more energetic than its parent

2. It can be stable or unstable but has less energy than its parent

3. It has the same energy level as its parent

4. It cannot exist without its parent isotope

The correct answer is: It can be stable or unstable but has less energy than its parent

A daughter product of nuclear decay refers to the new element or isotope that is formed as a result of the decay of a parent isotope. This process occurs when the parent isotope undergoes radioactive decay, resulting in the transformation into a different atom, which can be another radioactive isotope or a stable isotope. The correct understanding of a daughter product is that it can be either stable or unstable, and often it has less energy compared to its parent isotope. This decrease in energy typically occurs because during the decay process, energy is released in the form of radiation, which can include alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. As a result, the daughter product generally ends up in a more stable state than the energetic parent, although there are exceptions where the daughter can be more energetic initially before it further decays. In terms of stability, some daughter products may still be radioactive and continue to decay into other products, but they can also reach a stable point. The concept emphasizes the importance of understanding decay chains where the energy levels of isotopes may vary but generally trend towards stability overall. Other options do not accurately describe the nature of daughter products due to misconceptions about energy levels, stability, and independence from the parent isotope. The correct identification of a daughter product encompasses its