Nuclear Equations

• Nuclear equations are written in the form

  Atom before decay -> Atom after decay + Radiation emitted
• Nuclear equations are used to represent radioactive decay
• In a nuclear equation an alpha particle is represented by $^4_2He$
• In a nuclear equation a beta particle is represented by $^0_1e$
• The emission of an alpha particle decreases the mass number by 4 and the atomic number by 2
• The emission of a beta particle increases the atomic number by 1 because a neutron has lost an electron and became a proton
• In nuclear equations the total mass and atomic numbers has to be equal on both sides
• The emission of gamma rays do not change the mass or atomic number