Final answer:
Radioactive atoms decay by emitting different types of radiation and a byproduct of this decay is heat. This heat is caused by the emitted particles transferring energy to surrounding atoms and molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
When radioactive atoms decay, they give off different types of emissions and one of the byproducts, besides the primary radiation, is heat. This heat is generated because when radioactive substances decay, the emitted particles collide with atoms and molecules, transferring kinetic energy and causing them to move faster which we perceive as heat. The options provided include light, sound, and neutralization reactions, which are not typically products of nuclear decay, making heat (c) the correct answer.
To summarize:
- Alpha (a) decay involves the release of helium ions from the nucleus of an atom.
- Beta (β) decay involves the transformation of a neutron into a proton and an electron or the conversion of a proton into a neutron and the emission of a positron.
- Gamma (γ) decay is the emission of energy and may happen along with other types of decay.
Therefore, besides radiation, heat is a product given off by radioactive atoms during their decay.