Decay chain

A decay chain, also known as a radioactive decay series, is a sequence of radioactive isotopes that are formed when one unstable nucleus decays into another. Each decay produces a new isotope, which may be stable or unstable, and continues the process until a stable isotope is reached. For example, when uranium-238 decays, it transforms into thorium-234, which then decays into protactinium-234, and so on. This chain can involve several steps, each characterized by specific decay processes, and is important in fields like nuclear physics, geology, and radiometric dating.