Alfaemitenttejä

Alfaemitenttejä are a type of radioactive isotope that decays by emitting an alpha particle. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, making it identical to a helium nucleus. This emission results in the parent atom's atomic number decreasing by two and its mass number decreasing by four. Alfaemitenttejä are relatively heavy nuclei, as the strong nuclear force holding the nucleus together is overcome by the electrostatic repulsion between the protons.

Alpha decay is a common decay mode for heavy, unstable nuclei, such as those found in the actinide series. Examples of alfaemitenttejä include Uranium-238, Thorium-232, and Radium-226. The energy released during alpha decay is typically in the range of a few mega-electronvolts (MeV). While alpha particles are relatively massive and carry a positive charge, they have a short range in matter and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or the outer layer of human skin. However, if an alfaemitentti is ingested or inhaled, the emitted alpha particles can cause significant damage to internal tissues due to their high linear energy transfer. This internal hazard is the primary concern associated with alfaemitenttejä in terms of radiation safety.