Radioactive decay cannot be predicted exactly for a single nucleus because the process is __________.
Random in nature
To solve this question about the nature of radioactive decay, we need to assess each of the provided options:
- Option: Controlled by temperature only - Radioactive decay is a nuclear process that is not influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature. Thus, this option is incorrect.
- Option: Dependent on chemical state always - Radioactive decay is independent of the chemical state of the material. It occurs at a constant rate regardless of the chemical state, so this option is incorrect.
- Option: Random in nature - Radioactive decay is inherently a random process. The decay of a particular nucleus cannot be predicted; we can only predict the probability of decay over time. This makes it random in nature, which is the correct answer.
- Option: Completely deterministic - Since radioactive decay is a random process, it cannot be completely deterministic. This option is incorrect.
In conclusion, the process of radioactive decay cannot be predicted exactly for a single nucleus because it is random in nature. This randomness arises from the quantum mechanical nature of radioactive decay, where we can only statistically predict decay for a large number of nuclei using the concept of half-life.
Similar Questions
The stability of the nucleus is mainly due to the balance between ________.
Beta decay helps unstable nuclei achieve stability mainly by adjusting the __________.
Important Questions from Radioactivity
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The nuclei of 137 Cs decay by the emission of β - particles with a half life of 30.08 years. The activity (in units of disintegrations per second or Bq) of a 1 mg source of 137 Cs, prepared on January 1, 1980, as measured on January 1, 2021 is closest to
The Q - value of the α - decay of 232 Th to the ground state of 228 Ra is 4082 keV. The maximum possible kinetic energy of the α - particle is closest to
Radioactivity is the characteristic of which of the following?
A free neutron decays spontaneously into a proton, an electron and ___________ .
