Nucleur Equations

• Nuclear equation

  Shows what's produced when a radioactive nucleus decays
• Alpha particle


  Has 2 protons and 2 neutrons, same as helium nucleus
• Alpha decay


  1. Radioactive element decays and releases an alpha particle

  2. Atomic number of product increases by 2

  3. Mass number of product decreases by 4
• Beta decay


  Neutron changes to proton and electron is ejected as beta particle
• Beta decay


  1. Atomic number of product increases by 1

  2. Mass number of product does not change
• Gamma decay


  Neither atomic number nor mass number change