Are daughter atoms from radioactive decays ions?

Question

When a radioactive atom decays, particles are emitted. In the case of electron capture and positron decay, charges will remain balanced. However, in the case of alpha and beta decay, excess positive or negative particles are emitted. Will this have an effect on the charge of the daughter atom?

For example, Tc-99 decays by emitting a beta particle. Its nucleus will gain an extra proton, but the electron formed is ejected, and doesn't become part of the atom. Will the resulting Ru-99 atom be Ru+?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yes but almost instantaneously will pick upa free electron to become Ru.

MCG88 · Answer

I am going to school for Nuclear Medicine. Tc99m is the most common isotope we use in clinic.
With radioactivity nothing ever happens 100%. 

92% of the Time Mo-99 (which is the parent of Tc99) decays down to Tc99m (the "m" stands for metastable state), in this metastable state and then it decays into gamma photons, until its all gone, which stops the mother-daughter isotope chain.

What you are asking about only happens ~8% of the time. And continues the chain. Tc99 decays down to Ru-99 thru beta minus decay. Which means a Negatively charged beta particle is emitted from the Tc99 nucleus. Which results in an imbalance or a Positive charged nucleus. Ru-99 proton number is 44, where Tc99 has a proton number of 43 (so it already accounted for the positive charge in the atomic nomenclature)

And like the answer before atoms undergo electron capture and other process to try and reestablish themselves, its the nature of radioactivity.

? · Answer

27 Co 60 ===> 28 Ni 60 + e- The mirror reaction may be 27 Co 60 + e+ ===> 28 Ni 60 In electron catch, the nucleus captures one among its very own electrons from the ok-shell. there is no way for a nucleus to catch a positron from everywhere.

Are daughter atoms from radioactive decays ions?

3 Answers