Home >
Community >
Sulfur-35 (35S) is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of sulfur that is produced in the upper atmosphere. What type of radioactive decay would you expect for this isotope, and why?
Upvote
16
Downvote
+ Science
+ Chemistry
+ Radioactivity
+ Physics
+ Isotopes
+ Nuclear physics
Posted by
Nikola Janssen
Sulfur-35 (35S) is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of sulfur that is produced in the upper atmosphere. What type of radioactive decay would you expect for this isotope, and why?
It emits an electron from the nucleus (becoming Cl - 35,) with a half life of 87 days. We'll known fact.
As to why - a very simple answer is that this isotope has a few too many neutrons in the nucleus to be completely stable. (Stable sulfur isotopes are S32, S 33, S 34, and S36), and it is energetically favorable to eject an electron from the nucleus.
As to WHY it is energetically favorable to eject an electron, (especially since the lighter and heavier isotopes are stable), it has to do with the structure of atomic nuclei. You can either leave it at that (it just the way it is), or spend a LOT of time understanding the theories we have about nuclear structure. I haven't studied this field myself, but I doubt that you will find a 2 minute explanation that you will be able to understand without a great deal of study.
It emits an electron from the nucleus (becoming Cl - 35,) with a half life of 87 days. We'll known fact.
As to why - a very simple answer is that this isotope has a few too many neutrons in the nucleus to be completely stable. (Stable sulfur isotopes are S32, S 33, S 34, and S36), and it is energetically favorable to eject an electron from the nucleus.
As to WHY it is energetically favorable to eject an electron, (especially since the lighter and heavier isotopes are stable), it has to do with the structure of atomic nuclei. You can either leave it at that (it just the way it is), or spend a LOT of time understanding the theories we have about nuclear structure. I haven't studied this field myself, but I doubt that you will find a 2 minute explanation that you will be able to understand without a great deal of study.
It gives off a beta particle and changes into chlorine-35, with a half-life of 87 days. It does this not because it is over-massed, but rather it is neutron-rich. Chlorine-35 is stable.
It gives off a beta particle and changes into chlorine-35, with a half-life of 87 days. It does this not because it is over-massed, but rather it is neutron-rich. Chlorine-35 is stable.
Other Quorans have said that all of the decays work in both directions. Buuuut it is almost always an incredibly unlikely event … at least here on Earth,
There is one exception in the text that accompanies the hard copy of the Chart of the Nuclides ( which I don’t have as I’m out of the office). There is an isotope that decays by electron capture under certain conditions. Under other conditions, the daughter decays by beta emission, undoing the electron capture.
So, yes, it has even been observed in at least one case.
Other Quorans have said that all of the decays work in both directions. Buuuut it is almost always an incredibly unlikely event … at least here on Earth,
There is one exception in the text that accompanies the hard copy of the Chart of the Nuclides ( which I don’t have as I’m out of the office). There is an isotope that decays by electron capture under certain conditions. Under other conditions, the daughter decays by beta emission, undoing the electron capture.
So, yes, it has even been observed in at least one case.
Sulfur 35 is a cosmogenic isotope that has a half life of 87 days. It is produced in the upper atmosphere by the spallation of argon atoms by cosmic rays. The short half life of S35 allows it to be used to examine the influence of recent (~1yr) precipitation.
Sulfur 35 decays by beta minus emission... ejecting a high-speed electron along with a gamma ray and an antineutrino. This is to be expected from the low atomic number of the isotope, and the excited state of the nucleus following spallation, and the fact that S35 is relatively neutron rich. And, even though S36 has one more neutron and yet is stable, this is because the nuclear shell structure of S36, having an even number of nuclides, is more stable than S35.
Sulfur 35 is a cosmogenic isotope that has a half life of 87 days. It is produced in the upper atmosphere by the spallation of argon atoms by cosmic rays. The short half life of S35 allows it to be used to examine the influence of recent (~1yr) precipitation.
Sulfur 35 decays by beta minus emission... ejecting a high-speed electron along with a gamma ray and an antineutrino. This is to be expected from the low atomic number of the isotope, and the excited state of the nucleus following spallation, and the fact that S35 is relatively neutron rich. And, even though S36 has one more neutron and yet is stable, this is because the nuclear shell structure of S36, having an even number of nuclides, is more stable than S35.
If your are considering only the radioactive nature of the element, then a strong gamma emitter like Cobalt 60 might be atop that list.
If you also include the chemical nature of the element aside from its radioactive properties, then other elements such as plutonium 239, polonium 210 and americium 241 would come into play
If your are considering only the radioactive nature of the element, then a strong gamma emitter like Cobalt 60 might be atop that list.
If you also include the chemical nature of the element aside from its radioactive properties, then other elements such as plutonium 239, polonium 210 and americium 241 would come into play
It emits an electron from the nucleus (becoming Cl - 35,) with a half life of 87 days. We'll known fact.
As to why - a very simple answer is that this isotope has a few too many neutrons in the nucleus to be completely stable. (Stable sulfur isotopes are S32, S 33, S 34, and S36), and it is energetically favorable to eject an electron from the nucleus.
As to WHY it is energetically favorable to eject an electron, (especially since the lighter and heavier isotopes are stable), it has to do with the structure of atomic nuclei. You can either leave it at that (it just the way it is), or spend a LOT of time understanding the theories we have about nuclear structure. I haven't studied this field myself, but I doubt that you will find a 2 minute explanation that you will be able to understand without a great deal of study.
It emits an electron from the nucleus (becoming Cl - 35,) with a half life of 87 days. We'll known fact.
As to why - a very simple answer is that this isotope has a few too many neutrons in the nucleus to be completely stable. (Stable sulfur isotopes are S32, S 33, S 34, and S36), and it is energetically favorable to eject an electron from the nucleus.
As to WHY it is energetically favorable to eject an electron, (especially since the lighter and heavier isotopes are stable), it has to do with the structure of atomic nuclei. You can either leave it at that (it just the way it is), or spend a LOT of time understanding the theories we have about nuclear structure. I haven't studied this field myself, but I doubt that you will find a 2 minute explanation that you will be able to understand without a great deal of study.
More
VOTE
It gives off a beta particle and changes into chlorine-35, with a half-life of 87 days. It does this not because it is over-massed, but rather it is neutron-rich. Chlorine-35 is stable.
It gives off a beta particle and changes into chlorine-35, with a half-life of 87 days. It does this not because it is over-massed, but rather it is neutron-rich. Chlorine-35 is stable.
More
VOTE
Other Quorans have said that all of the decays work in both directions. Buuuut it is almost always an incredibly unlikely event … at least here on Earth,
There is one exception in the text that accompanies the hard copy of the Chart of the Nuclides ( which I don’t have as I’m out of the office). There is an isotope that decays by electron capture under certain conditions. Under other conditions, the daughter decays by beta emission, undoing the electron capture.
So, yes, it has even been observed in at least one case.
Other Quorans have said that all of the decays work in both directions. Buuuut it is almost always an incredibly unlikely event … at least here on Earth,
There is one exception in the text that accompanies the hard copy of the Chart of the Nuclides ( which I don’t have as I’m out of the office). There is an isotope that decays by electron capture under certain conditions. Under other conditions, the daughter decays by beta emission, undoing the electron capture.
So, yes, it has even been observed in at least one case.
More
VOTE
Sulfur 35 is a cosmogenic isotope that has a half life of 87 days. It is produced in the upper atmosphere by the spallation of argon atoms by cosmic rays. The short half life of S35 allows it to be used to examine the influence of recent (~1yr) precipitation.
Sulfur 35 decays by beta minus emission... ejecting a high-speed electron along with a gamma ray and an antineutrino. This is to be expected from the low atomic number of the isotope, and the excited state of the nucleus following spallation, and the fact that S35 is relatively neutron rich. And, even though S36 has one more neutron and yet is stable, this is because the nuclear shell structure of S36, having an even number of nuclides, is more stable than S35.
Sulfur 35 is a cosmogenic isotope that has a half life of 87 days. It is produced in the upper atmosphere by the spallation of argon atoms by cosmic rays. The short half life of S35 allows it to be used to examine the influence of recent (~1yr) precipitation.
Sulfur 35 decays by beta minus emission... ejecting a high-speed electron along with a gamma ray and an antineutrino. This is to be expected from the low atomic number of the isotope, and the excited state of the nucleus following spallation, and the fact that S35 is relatively neutron rich. And, even though S36 has one more neutron and yet is stable, this is because the nuclear shell structure of S36, having an even number of nuclides, is more stable than S35.
More
VOTE
Sulfur 35 decays via beta radiation to form chlorine 35 which is stable.
The half-life is 87.39 days.
Sulfur 35 decays via beta radiation to form chlorine 35 which is stable.
The half-life is 87.39 days.
More
VOTE
If your are considering only the radioactive nature of the element, then a strong gamma emitter like Cobalt 60 might be atop that list.
If you also include the chemical nature of the element aside from its radioactive properties, then other elements such as plutonium 239, polonium 210 and americium 241 would come into play
If your are considering only the radioactive nature of the element, then a strong gamma emitter like Cobalt 60 might be atop that list.
If you also include the chemical nature of the element aside from its radioactive properties, then other elements such as plutonium 239, polonium 210 and americium 241 would come into play
More
VOTE
Yes it certainly is. That's why is it is used for determining the age of artifacts. They measure the carbon-14 radio decay
Yes it certainly is. That's why is it is used for determining the age of artifacts. They measure the carbon-14 radio decay
More
VOTE