What is Natural Transmutation and it's Types?

Natural Transmutation

Definition

               " The natural transmutation does not require any external initiation. Hence reactions are spontaneous in nature." 

Types of Natural Transmutation

        Radiations emitted during natural transmutation may have three types.

1. Alpha Decay
2. Beta Decay
3. Gamma Decay

       Let us discuss types of natural transmutation one by one.

 1. Alpha Decay

         " The natural transmutation is called alpha-decay when a radioactive element undergoes a nuclear decay through the emission of alpha particle." 

         For example; The alpha-decay of  Radium-222 produces Radon-218.

                               ₈₈Ra²²²  ➡       ₈₆Rn²¹⁸     +    ₂He⁴ 

2. Beta Decay 

       " The natural transmutation is called beta-decay when a radioactive element undergoes a nuclear decay through the emission of beta particle."  

      For example; Beta-decay from Thorium-234, first forms excited nuclei of Protactinium-234 which further emits some radiation to form stable Protactinium-234.

                        ₉₀Th²³⁴  ➡       ₉₁Pa²³⁴     +    _-1e⁰    + anti-neutrino 

3. Gamma Decay

     " The gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiations. They are generally emitted as a secondary effect of alpha or beta-decay. The nuclei reached in its excited state because of alpha decay or beta decay. Hence excess of energy is emitted in the form of  gamma rays." 

      

                                  _ZX^A  ➡        _Z^AX^*   ➡       _ZX^A     +    ⋎-Rays 

         

            The gamma rays are neutral in nature with negligible mass. The emission of gamma rays corresponds to no change in mass number and atomic number of daughter nuclei compare to parent nuclei. 

        For example; gamma rays emission from excited state cobalt-60 converts it to ground state only.