4.4.2.2 Nuclear Equations

Question 1

Nuclear equations:

Answer 1

used to represent decay

Question 2

What does beta decay cause?

Answer 2

• beta decay does not cause the mass of the nucleus to change but does cause the charge of the nucleus to increase
• beta decay does not cause the mass number of an atom to change as beta decay is when an electron is ejected from an atom at high speed due to a neutron turning into a proton and electron

Question 3

What does the emission of a gamma ray cause?

Answer 3

emission of a gamma ray does not cause the mass or the charge of the nucleus to change

Question 4

What may the emission of the different types of nuclear radiation cause?

Answer 4

may cause a change in mass and/or the change of the nucleus

Question 5

What does alpha decay cause?

Answer 5

alpha decay causes both the mass and charge of the nucleus to decrease