decay chain

noun

A series of nuclides, such that one nuclide radioactively decays into another, which decays into another, and so on, until a stable nuclide is reached. For example, uranium-238 must undergo eight alpha decays and six beta decays in order to become stable lead-206; intermediate nuclides include uranium-234, radium-226, and radon-222.

Similar
decay series
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Meanings

noundecay chain (plural decay chains)

plural decay chains

  1. nuclear physicsA series of nuclides, such that one nuclide radioactively decays into another, which decays into another, and so on, until a stable nuclide is reached. For example, uranium-238 must undergo eight alpha decays and six beta decays in order to become stable lead-206; intermediate nuclides include uranium-234, radium-226, and radon-222.

    Synonyms: decay series

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA series of nuclides, such that one nuclide radioactively decays into another, which decays into another, and so on, until a stable nuclide is reached. For example, uranium-238 must undergo eight alpha decays and six beta decays in order to become stable lead-206; intermediate nuclides include uranium-234, radium-226, and radon-222.

Similar
decay series
Also see
decay series

Translations

French chaîne de désintégration
  • chaîne de désintégrationTranslations
German Zerfallsreihe
  • ZerfallsreiheTranslations
Italian catena di decadimento
  • catena di decadimentoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

decay chain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decay%20chain

MLA

“decay chain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decay%20chain. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “decay chain,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decay%20chain.

Source: decay chain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.