Decay Series - doe-hdbk-1113-98_reaffirm_2005

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Module 101 Properties of Uranium

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

Show OT-6

As uranium goes through radioactive decay, it produces

other radioactive elements known as radioactive decay

products (also called progeny or daughter products).

These radioactive decay products are also radioactive and

have to be taken into account for radiological protection

purposes.

Both alpha and beta particles are emitted as part of decay

series. For example, 238U decays by alpha emission to

234Th; 234Th decays by beta emission to 234mPa; and

so on, until stable 206Pb is finally reached.

Decay Series

Show OT-7

Uranium has two naturally occurring decay series:

Discuss decay products

the "actinium" series, which has 235U as its parent;

resulting in radiological

and the "uranium" series, which has 238U as its

concerns at your facility.

Refer to the Health

parent. Many of our everyday encounters with

Physics Manual of Good

radioactivity come from these decay series;

Practices for Uranium

examples are radon gas and radium.

Facilities for specific

technical information on

There are also man-made isotopes of uranium -

different isotopes of

232U and 233U. These radionuclides and their

uranium.

decay products must be considered in the

implementation of a radiological control program at

a facility where these uranium nuclides are present.