Why is radioactivity described as a random process?

Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles (radiation). Decay is said to occur in the parent nucleus and produces a daughter nucleus. This is a random process, i.e. it is impossible to predict the decay of individual atoms. read more

Radioactive decay happens when a particle ‘quantum tunnels’ into or out of the nucleus. This has to be random – because of quantum mechanics everything is ‘fuzzy’ at that level and everything is a statistical process, rather than a predictable one. read more

Random nature of radioactivity is indicated by the fluctuation of the count-rate. Whereas, spontaneous means that the process of radioactivity is not dependent upon any external environmental conditions like temperature, pressure, magnetic/electric field. read more

The level of this radiation (called the background count) is low. If you switch on a Geiger counter it will detect this background radiation and give a reading in Becquerels (Bq) for the level. Radioactive Decay is a Random Process. The background count is not constant but keeps going up and down. This is because radioactive decay is a random process. read more