What does radioactive decay lead to?

Radioactive decay describes the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. This process often results in the transformation of a radioactive isotope into a more stable isotope. Over time, the original unstable isotope undergoes a series of decay events, often resulting in multiple decay products, until reaching a stable state, typically not radioactive.

This transformation involves the release of particles and energy, which can be in the form of alpha or beta particles, or gamma radiation. The end products of radioactive decay are generally more stable because they possess lower energy and have reached a configuration that does not lead to further decay.

In contrast, the other options present misunderstandings of the decay process. The transformation of a stable isotope into a radioactive one doesn't happen via radioactive decay; rather, certain nuclear reactions or interactions can induce radioactivity. An increase in energy of radioactive material is contrary to the nature of decay, which is meant to release energy. Lastly, the generation of new radioactive isotopes can occur through decay chains but fundamentally, the focus of decay is on the transformation into more stable products rather than merely creating new radioactive isotopes.