Radioactivity

the giving out of particles (known as α or β particles and γ rays) by unstable substances that are disintegrating.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

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Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus spontaneously loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and radiation. This decay, or loss of energy, results in an atom of one type, called the parent nuclide transforming to an atom of a different type, named the daughter nuclide. For example: a carbon-14 atom (the "parent") emits radiation and transforms to a nitrogen-14 atom (the "daughter"). This is a stochastic process on the atomic level, in that it is impossible to predict when a given atom will decay, but given a large number of similar atoms the decay rate, on average, is predictable.

The SI unit of activity is the becquerel (Bq). One Bq is defined as one transformation (or decay) per second. Since any reasonably-sized sample of radioactive material contains many atoms, a Bq is a tiny measure of activity; amounts on the order of GBq (gigabecquerel, 1 x 10⁹ decays per second) or TBq (terabecquerel, 1 x 10¹² decays per second) are commonly used. Another unit of radioactivity is the curie, Ci, which was originally defined as the amount of radium emanation (radon-222) in equilibrium with of one gram of pure radium, isotope Ra-226. At present it is equal, by definition, to the activity of any radionuclide decaying with a disintegration rate of 3.7 × 10¹⁰ Bq. The use of Ci is presently discouraged by the SI.

Taken from Wikipedia

Labile

a term used in chemistry which means not stable, likely to change.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

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The term is used to describe a relatively unstable and transient chemical species. As a general example, if molecule exists in a particular conformation for a short life-time, before adopting a lower energy conformation, the former molecular structure is said to have 'high lability' (such as C₂₅, a 25-carbon fullerene spheroid). The term is sometimes also used in reference to reactivity - for example, a complex which quickly reaches equilibrium in solution is said to be labile (with respect to that solution).

Taken from Wikipedia