The diagram illustrates radioactive decay.

Question

An atom with arrows showing movement away to a second atom.

Which statement correctly identifies structures 1 and 2 in the diagram?

Structure 1 is an unstable atom that turns into structure 2, a new atom.
Structure 1 is a stable element that breaks down into structure 2, an unstable element.
Structure 1 is a radioactive element that loses particles to create structure 2, released energy.
Structure 1 is a radioactive atom that decays into structure 2, half of the original unstable element.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

Structure 1 is a radioactive atom that decays into structure 2, half of the original unstable element.

This statement accurately describes the process of radioactive decay, where a radioactive atom (structure 1) undergoes a transformation (decay) to become a different atom (structure 2), often resulting in a stable or different element. The reference to "half" may indicate a decay process such as half-life, where after a certain time, half of the original amount of the unstable element remains.