Been on a paranormal kick but not necessary a believer, wondering how objects become radioactive that aren’t usually (like the hikers clothes at Dyotlov pass) I understand why they are considered radioactive (atoms with access energy?) but do we know why they suddenly are or is it a mystery in and of itself?
In: Chemistry
Radioactivity is when the core (nucleus) of an atom is unstable. I.E. it’s in a state where it could change to get into a lower energy state. When that happens it will release the excess energy, and sometimes parts of the core itself are ejected in the form of radiation.
Some elements are naturally radioactive and can never be stable (Uranium, Plutonium).
Some elements can be in instable states after being hit with something highly energetic. Most famously radiation from space hitting Nitrogen and turning it into radioactive Carbon (C-14) wich will eventually turn back to Nitrogren again by releasing the energy.
How most random object become radioactive though is by absorbing radioactive dust. After a nucleat incident it isn’t random items suddenly having instable atoms, it’s instable atoms flying around and being caught in clothes or our body. Some elements are especially dangerous, for example Iodine wich our body will store longterm because in it’s non radioactive form it’s important to our body.
Random radioactive elements appear in those nuclear indicidents in two ways. First they can be decay products, like instable Uranium splitting into two slightly more stable atoms wich are still radioactive. The other is highly energetic neutrons being shot around and caught in other atoms wich become unstable/radioactive that way. (Unbalanced number protons/neutrons is a very common for of instability)
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