Describe the modes of radioactive decay

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or electromagnetic radiation to become more stable. There are several different modes of radioactive decay, including alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay.

1. Alpha decay occurs when an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons. This type of decay reduces the atomic number of the nucleus by two and the mass number by four.
2. Beta decay occurs when an atomic nucleus emits an electron or a positron, which are particles with the same mass as an electron but with opposite charge. This type of decay changes the nucleus from one element to another and increases the atomic number by one.
3. Gamma decay occurs when an atomic nucleus emits a high-energy photon, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. This type of decay does not change the atomic number or the mass number of the nucleus, but it does release a large amount of energy.