nuclear equations

• What does a nuclear equation show?

  What is produced when a radioactive nucleus decays
• What is an alpha particle composed of?

  Two protons and two neutrons
• How is an alpha particle represented in nuclear equations?

  By the symbol for helium
• What is the atomic number of an alpha particle?

  2
• What does the mass number of an alpha particle indicate?

  It has 4 protons and neutrons combined
• What happens to the atomic number during alpha decay?

  It decreases by 2
• What happens to the mass number during alpha decay?

  It decreases by 4
• What is the atomic number of radium?

  88
• What is the atomic number of radon produced from radium during alpha decay?

  86
• What is the mass number of radium?

  226
• What is the mass number of radon produced from radium during alpha decay?

  222
• What are the rules for alpha decay?

  • Atomic number decreases by 2
  • Mass number decreases by 4
• What happens to a neutron during beta decay?

  It changes to a proton and an electron
• What is a beta particle?

  An electron ejected from the nucleus
• What happens to the atomic number during beta decay?

  It increases by 1
• What happens to the mass number during beta decay?

  It does not change
• What are the rules for beta decay?

  • Atomic number increases by 1
  • Mass number does not change
• What happens during gamma decay?

  Both atomic number and mass number remain unchanged
• What types of decay have been discussed?

  • Alpha decay
  • Beta decay
  • Gamma decay