Decay chain

A sequence of radioactive transformations linking an unstable nuclide to later products, sometimes ending in a stable nuclide.

Radioactive decay: The spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus through particle or radiation emission. Each link in a decay chain is a radioactive transformation.
Nuclide: A distinct atomic species defined by its numbers of protons and neutrons. Every chain consists of nuclides linked by nuclear transformations.
Uranium-238 decay chain: The natural decay series beginning with uranium-238 and ending with stable lead-206. It is a long, well-studied chain with several alpha and beta decays.
Radiometric dating: A method for determining age from measured radioactive parent and daughter abundances. Chain products can record elapsed time when their production and loss are understood.
Single-step radioactive decay: A radioactive transformation treated as one parent-to-product event without following later decays. A decay chain tracks the descendants beyond the first transformation.
Daughter nuclide: A nuclide produced when another nuclide undergoes radioactive decay. A daughter nuclide becomes the next member of the chain if it is unstable.
Alpha decay: A radioactive transformation in which a nucleus emits a helium-4 nucleus. It lowers the parent’s proton number by two and mass number by four.
Uranium-235 decay chain: The natural decay series beginning with uranium-235 and ending with stable lead-207. Its branches include multiple routes through short-lived daughter nuclides.
Uranium–lead dating: A geochronological method that uses uranium decay to lead isotopes to date rocks and minerals. Its two uranium decay series provide independent clocks and cross-checks.
Radioactive equilibrium: A condition in a radioactive system where related nuclide activities maintain a stable ratio over time. Equilibrium describes a population relationship within a chain, not the chain itself.

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