Energies associated with nuclear processes are about a million times larger than chemical process

Disintegration energy?is the?energy?released during radioactive decay. Nuclear physics involves the study of many nuclear reactions, where one atom or particle turns into another, or where particles collide creating new ones.

Radioactive?decay, also known as nuclear decay orradioactivity, is the process by which the nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation, including alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays and conversion electrons. A material that spontaneously emits such radiation is consideredradioactive.

Alpha?rays are actually high speed?particles. Early researchers tended to refer to any form of energetic?radiation?as?rays, and the term is still used. An?alpha particleis made up of two protons and two neutrons, all held together by the same strong nuclear force that binds the nucleus of any atom.