What happens to isotopes that are unstable?

Explanation:

Isotopes are defined as the chemical species of the same element which differs in the number of neutrons. The isotopes which are unstable are known as radioactive isotope. A radioactive (unstable )isotope can undergo 3 decay process:

1. Alpha Decay: In this decay process, a larger nuclei decays into smaller nuclei by releasing alpha particle. The particle released has a charge of +2 and a mass of 4 units.

2. Beta-minus decay: In this decay process, a neutron gets converted into a proton and an electron. the particle released during this process is a beta-particle.

3. Beta-plus decay: In this decay process, a protons gets converted into a neutron and electron-neutrino particle. The particle released during this process is a positron particle.

Isotopes which are unstable in nature can undergo these 3 decay processes.

a. energy is absorbed in the reaction.

if in a given reaction the energy of products is greater than the energy of reactants it means that reaction is endothermic and during the reaction, the energy is absorbed by reactants. in an endothermic reaction, the products have more stored chemical energy than the reactants. and in this reaction the reactants are more stable than products before the compounds with less energy are always more stable.