Nuclear equations

• What are the three types of radiation discussed in the video?

  Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation
• What do alpha particles consist of?

  Two protons and two neutrons
• How are alpha particles generally represented?

  As helium $^{4}_{2}$
• What happens to uranium-238 during alpha decay?

  It loses two protons and two neutrons
• What is the mass number of the decay product after uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay?

  234
• What is the atomic number of the decay product after uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay?

  90
• What element does uranium-238 become after alpha decay?

  Thorium
• How do you represent an alpha particle in an equation?

  As a helium nucleus
• What is the atomic number of radium-226?

  88
• What is the decay product of radium-226 after alpha decay?

  Radon
• What occurs during beta decay?

  A neutron turns into a proton
• What happens to the atomic number during beta decay?

  It increases by 1
• What element does carbon-14 become after beta decay?

  Nitrogen
• How is a beta particle represented in equations?

  With a minus one charge
• What is the mass of a beta particle?

  Approximately zero
• What is gamma radiation?

  Pure energy with no mass or charge
• What happens to thorium-234 during gamma decay?

  It remains thorium-234
• How is gamma radiation represented in equations?

  With the Greek letter gamma
• What is the result of neutron emission from beryllium-9?

  Beryllium-8 plus a neutron
• What happens to the mass number during neutron emission from beryllium-9?

  It decreases by 1
• What are the key steps in writing a nuclear decay equation for alpha decay?

  • Identify the initial element and its atomic number
  • Subtract 4 from the mass number
  • Subtract 2 from the atomic number
  • Identify the new element using the periodic table
  • Write the equation with the emitted alpha particle
• What are the key steps in writing a nuclear decay equation for beta decay?

  • Identify the initial element and its atomic number
  • Increase the atomic number by 1
  • Keep the mass number the same
  • Identify the new element using the periodic table
  • Write the equation with the emitted beta particle
• What are the key steps in writing a nuclear decay equation for gamma decay?

  • Identify the initial element
  • No change in atomic or mass number
  • Write the equation with the emitted gamma ray
• What are the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation?

  • Alpha: Heavy, positively charged, helium nucleus
  • Beta: Light, negatively charged, fast-moving electron
  • Gamma: No mass, no charge, pure energy
• What is the significance of checking the periodic table after a decay?

  • To identify the new element formed after decay