Parent nucleus

In nuclear science, a parent nucleus refers to the original unstable atom that undergoes radioactive decay to transform into a more stable atom. During this process, the parent nucleus emits particles or energy, leading to the formation of a new atom called a daughter nucleus. This concept is important in understanding how certain elements change over time and the processes involved in radioactivity, such as in the decay series of isotopes. Essentially, the parent nucleus is the starting point of a sequence of transformations in unstable atomic structures.