Question

Are all elements Radioactive? atleast to some extent?

Answer 1

Over enough time, i'd say yes.

Answer 2

so ALL elements decay?? including Hydrogen ?? provided enuf time is given?

Answer 3

Was just thinking about hydrogen, and the noble gases that are completely inert. The vast majority would decay over enough time.

Answer 4

ok...What about so called STABLE elements?

Answer 5

Stable elements have complete shells of electrons, the electron configuration ends with an empty sub-shell, with an equal amount of protons and neutrons. Unstable elements arise from decay that is more likely if atomic numbers of nucleons differ. A negative ion is more likely to undergo beta decay, to lose it's extra electron and gain stability. Essentially atoms decay to gain stability, and not not decay because their stable.

Answer 6

complete subshell*

Answer 7

THanks!

Answer 8

hydrogen nucleus which is basically a proton.. cannot decay :P..

a proton cannot undergo a beta plus decay and become a neutron and a beta plus particle.. in its free state
so.. i don't think hydrogen would ever decay!.. but there could be more to that ..

Answer 9

ok..THANKS!

Answer 10

Why EXACTLY do elements like U-238 decay? just because no of protons is not equal to no of neutrons???

Answer 11

The "exact" mechanism of atomic decay is extremely complicated nuclear physics, but the basic concept it not too difficult. Heavier elements tend to be unstable because of the strong nuclear forces holding the nucleus together are at a lower total potential energy configuration when the nucleus is smaller. Heavy radioactive elements tend to decay into lead.
Does every atom emit some kind of radiation? Yes.
Is every atom decaying radioactively? Generally we say "no" but if light elements like hydrogen are decaying, it is at an extremely slow rate, and I don't think there is a clear indication that this is true. There may be some speculation on the subject.

Answer 12

Thanks a lot @TuringTest

Answer 13

"but if light elements like hydrogen are decaying, it is at an extremely slow rate"
@TuringTest
I had read somewhere, that a proton cannnnnot decay.. when it is in its free state..

decay needs to have a purpose.. basically stability.. so decay of proton to neutron maybe.. doesn't make any sense .. right? :P

Answer 14

As far as I know, that's right @Mashy , I'm just thinking that there may be some models which predict a very slow decay of everything. I don't pretend to know all the models out there, and I've heard much crazier theories, so I assume some such theory as proton degeneration exists.

Answer 15

But.. every theory must obey some basic principles laid down by some general laws right? :D..
but yea.. quantum laws are weird.. lets just leave at that :P

Answer 16

Indeed, when it comes to quantum stuff it's basically just "shut up and calculate" until some better theory, if possible, is produced.
Here are some dense articles which suggest things like "superheavy magnetic monopoles" and such, if you want to comb through them.
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=theories+on+proton+decay&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=0KX7UsDYMKLs2QX36oH4CQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQgQMwAA

Answer 17

ohw.. these forces are literally beyond my ken :P