Radioactive isotope

Definition

A radioactive isotope, also known as a radioisotope, is an atom that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. This instability leads to the atom releasing radiation until it becomes more stable.

Related terms

Half: life - The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay into more stable forms.

Radiation:

Energy that comes from a source and travels through space, which can be in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.

Stable Isotope: An isotope of an element that does not undergo radioactive decay and remains constant over time