Nuclear Decay Equations

• What do alpha particles consist of?

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

  As helium $^{4}_{2}$ or the Greek letter alpha
• What is the new mass number after uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay?

  234
• How do you represent an alpha particle in an equation?

  As a helium nucleus
• 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 is emitted during beta decay?

  A fast-moving electron
• What is the mass number of carbon-14?

  14
• How is a beta particle represented in equations?

  With a minus one charge and zero mass
• 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 decay product of beryllium-9 after neutron emission?

  Beryllium-8
• How does neutron emission affect the mass number?

  It decreases by 1
• What is the mass number of beryllium-9?

  9
• What is the mass number of beryllium-8?

  8