The nuclei of all elements above lead in the periodic table are unstable and radioactive.
For the most part the nuclei of the elements that make up the matter around us are stable, but some spontaneously change into other elements in one of a variety of ways.
When these unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously breakdown, they are said to have decayed.
During these changes the nuclei become new elements by emitting smaller atoms, sub-atomic particles, and energy.
Collectively these processes are called natural radioactivity.
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