4.2.2 Nuclear Equations

• What are nuclear equations used to represent?

  Radioactive decay.
• What does this symbol represent?

  An alpha particle.

  
• What does this symbol represent?

  A beta particle.

  
• Alpha decay causes both the mass and charge of the nucleus to..?


  Decrease.
• Emission of the different types of nuclear radiation may cause a change in what?

  The mass/charge of the nucleus.
• Beta decay causes..?

  No change to the mass of the nucleus but causes the charge of the nucleus to increase.
• The emission of a gamma ray does not cause the mass or the charge of a nucleus to change.
• The nuclear equation shows thorium (Th) undergoing alpha decay. Fill in the missing atomic mass (A) and atomic number (B):

  A: 228

  B: 88

  
• The nuclear equation shows rubidium (Rb) undergoing beta decay. Fill in the missing atomic mass A and atomic number B:


  A: 87

  B: 38

  
• The nuclear equation shows protactinium (Pa) undergoing gamma ray decay. Fill in the missing atomic mass A and atomic number B:


  A: 234

  B: 91

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

  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.