6.3 - Nuclear Decay Equations

• Alpha:

  
• Beta:

  
• The nucleus of any element can be represented in the following form:

    612C  612​C

  This is the nucleus of the element carbon.

  1. The C is the elemental (or chemical) symbol
  2. The 12 is the 'mass number', which is the number of protons and neutrons combined
  3. The 6 is the 'atomic number', which is the number of protons. This can also be thought of as the particle's charge.
• 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 represented?

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

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

  $234$
• What is the new atomic number of uranium-238 after alpha decay?

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

  Thorium
• What is the atomic number of radium-226?

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

  $222$
• What element does radium-226 become after alpha decay?

  Radon
• What occurs during beta decay?

  A neutron turns into a proton and emits an electron
• What happens to the atomic number of carbon-14 during beta decay?

  It increases from 6 to 7
• What element does carbon-14 become after beta decay?

  Nitrogen
• 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
• What is the result of neutron emission from beryllium-9?

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

  It decreases by one
• What are the key differences between alpha, beta, and gamma radiation?

  • Alpha: Consists of protons and neutrons, has mass and charge.
  • Beta: Involves neutron to proton conversion, emits electrons, has negligible mass and negative charge.
  • Gamma: Pure energy, no mass or charge, does not change elements.
• How do you write nuclear equations for alpha and beta decay?

  • Alpha decay: Subtract 4 from mass number, 2 from atomic number.
  • Beta decay: Atomic number increases by 1, mass number remains unchanged.
• What steps are involved in determining the decay product of a radioactive element?

  1. Identify the initial element and its atomic number.
  2. Apply the decay process (alpha or beta).
  3. Calculate new mass and atomic numbers.
  4. Refer to the periodic table for the new element.