Nuclear Equations

• Nuclear Equations


  Show radioactive decay, easy to understand once you get the hang of them
• Nuclear equations


  • Mass and atomic numbers have to balance on both sides
• Nuclear equations


  1. Showing radioactive decay using element symbols

  2. Written in the form: atom before decay -> atom after decay + radiation emitted
• Alpha decay


  • Decreases the charge and mass of the nucleus
  • Atomic number reduces by 2
  • Mass number reduces by 4
• Alpha particle


  Made up of two protons and two neutrons
• Alpha decay


  • Uranium-236 -> Thorium-234 + Helium-4
• Beta decay


  • Increases the charge of the nucleus
  • Neutron turns into a proton and releases a fast-moving electron (beta particle)
  • Atomic number increases by 1
  • Mass of the nucleus doesn't change
• Beta decay


  • Carbon-14 -> Nitrogen-14 + Electron
• Beta particle


  Fast-moving electron
• Gamma rays


  • Don't change the charge or mass of the nucleus
  • Way of getting rid of excess energy from a nucleus
• Gamma radiation


  Written as gamma (γ) in nuclear equations
• In both alpha and beta emissions, a new element will be formed, as the number of protons (atomic number) changes
• Mass and atomic numbers must balance in nuclear equations