A radioactive substance is oxidised. What changes would you expect to takeplace in radioactivity? State your reason

When a radioactive substance is oxidized, you would expect the following changes in radioactivity:

1. Oxidation Process: Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons from a substance, typically leading to the formation of oxides. In a radioactive substance, oxidation does not necessarily affect the number of radioactive nuclei present since radioactivity is a property of the isotopes themselves, not their oxidation state.

2. Chemical Structure Changes: While the oxidation may change the chemical structure of the radioactive element or compound, the fundamental characteristics of the isotopes, including their half-lives and decay modes, remain unchanged. Therefore, the radioactivity, measured in terms of decay per unit time (e.g., counts per minute), might not show a significant change just as a result of oxidation.

3. Stability and Decay: If the oxidation process leads to the formation of a more stable compound or a different isotope (e.g., if a radioactive isotope is converted to a stable one), then we might see a decrease in radioactivity. Conversely, if the oxidation yields an isotopic form that is itself radioactive, then there might be an increase in radioactivity.

4. Conclusion: In summary, oxidation typically does not directly change the level of radioactivity unless it alters the isotopes involved. Therefore, one would not expect a substantial change in radioactivity solely due to the oxidation of a radioactive substance unless there is a specific change in the isotopes involved. Thus, the main takeaway is that oxidation itself is not a direct cause for an increase or decrease in radioactivity without further chemical transformation of isotopes.