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?

  Using 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 is the atomic number of americium?

  95
• What is the atomic number of neptunium produced from americium during alpha decay?

  93
• What is the mass number of americium?

  241
• What is the mass number of neptunium produced from americium during alpha decay?

  237
• What happens to a neutron during beta decay?

  It changes to a proton and an electron
• What is released during beta decay?

  A beta particle
• 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 is the atomic number of silicon in beta decay?

  14
• What is the mass number of the silicon isotope in beta decay?

  29
• What is the atomic number of xenon produced from iodine during beta decay?

  54
• What is the mass number of the xenon isotope produced from iodine during beta decay?

  131
• What happens to the atomic number and mass number during gamma decay?

  Both remain unchanged
• What are the rules for alpha decay?

  • Atomic number decreases by 2
  • Mass number decreases by 4
• What are the rules for beta decay?

  • Atomic number increases by 1
  • Mass number does not change
• What is the difference in atomic and mass numbers during gamma decay?

  • Atomic number remains unchanged
  • Mass number remains unchanged