key term - Daughter Nuclide

Definition

A daughter nuclide is a radioactive isotope that is produced as a result of the radioactive decay of a parent nuclide. This term is particularly relevant in the context of understanding half-life and radioactive activity, as the formation and decay of daughter nuclides are integral to these processes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The daughter nuclide inherits the mass number and atomic number of the parent nuclide, but with a different number of neutrons, making it a different isotope.
2. The rate of formation of the daughter nuclide is directly proportional to the decay rate of the parent nuclide, as described by the radioactive decay equation.
3. The activity of the daughter nuclide increases over time as the parent nuclide decays, until a state of radioactive equilibrium is reached.
4. The half-life of the daughter nuclide may be different from the half-life of the parent nuclide, leading to different decay rates and activity levels.
5. The presence and concentration of daughter nuclides can be used to determine the age of geological and archaeological samples through techniques like radiometric dating.

Review Questions

• Explain how the formation of a daughter nuclide is related to the radioactive decay of a parent nuclide.
  • When a radioactive parent nuclide undergoes decay, it emits radiation and transforms into a different nucleus, which becomes the daughter nuclide. The daughter nuclide inherits the mass number and atomic number of the parent nuclide, but with a different number of neutrons, making it a different isotope. The rate of formation of the daughter nuclide is directly proportional to the decay rate of the parent nuclide, as described by the radioactive decay equation. This relationship is central to understanding the concept of half-life and the changes in radioactive activity over time.
• Describe the concept of radioactive equilibrium and how it relates to the relationship between a parent nuclide and its daughter nuclide.
  • Radioactive equilibrium is a state where the rate of formation of a daughter nuclide is equal to the rate of its decay, resulting in a constant ratio between the parent and daughter nuclides. This occurs when the half-life of the daughter nuclide is much shorter than the half-life of the parent nuclide. In this situation, as the parent nuclide decays, the daughter nuclide is produced at the same rate as it is decaying, leading to a stable and predictable relationship between the two. Understanding radioactive equilibrium is crucial for interpreting the activity and decay patterns of radioactive materials, particularly in the context of half-life and radiometric dating.
• Analyze the importance of daughter nuclides in the application of radiometric dating techniques for determining the age of geological and archaeological samples.
  • The presence and concentration of daughter nuclides are essential for the application of radiometric dating techniques, which are used to determine the age of geological and archaeological samples. As a parent nuclide undergoes radioactive decay, it transforms into a daughter nuclide, and the ratio of the parent nuclide to the daughter nuclide can be used to calculate the age of the sample. This is possible because the rate of radioactive decay is constant and well-understood, and the half-life of the parent nuclide is known. By measuring the relative abundance of the parent and daughter nuclides in a sample, scientists can determine the time elapsed since the sample was formed, providing valuable insights into the age of Earth's geological features and the chronology of human history.

Related terms

Parent Nuclide:

The original radioactive isotope that undergoes radioactive decay and produces a daughter nuclide.

Radioactive Decay:

The spontaneous process by which a radioactive nucleus emits radiation and transforms into a different nucleus, often a daughter nuclide.

Radioactive Equilibrium: A state where the rate of formation of a daughter nuclide is equal to the rate of its decay, resulting in a constant ratio between the parent and daughter nuclides.