X-rays are used instead of visible light because x-rays have shorter than visible light, allowing them to produce images of much greater detail.

Daughter element the new element produced along with a decay particle in a nuclear transmutation 2. half-life the substance that decays in a nuclear transmutation 3. parent element the change of one chemical element into another by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment 4. transmutation the time required for the decay of one-half of the atoms in a sample of radioactive material