Nuclear Equations

Question 1

Alpha decay - what happens to the unstable nucleus?

Answer 1

Its atomic number decreases by 2 and its mass number decreases by 4

Question 2

what would be the result of alpha decay of radium-226
226
88 RN

Answer 2

222
86 RN + 4
2 HE

Question 3

Beta Decay - what is it?

Answer 3

When an unstable nucleus undergoes beta decay, its atomic number increases by 1 and its mass number stays the same.

Question 4

What would be the result of beta decay upon lithium-8

8
Li
3

Answer 4

8 0
Be + e
4 -1

Question 5

Is there any changes to the atomic number, mass number or the charge of an atom when it undergoes GAMMA radiation?

Answer 5

NO

Question 6

What is a half-life?

Answer 6

The time it takes for the level of radioactivity to fall to half its original value.

Question 7

WHat are the 4 steps to finding the half life of a radioactive sample on a graph>

Answer 7

1. Read the activity of the sample from the graph
2. Calculate half its original value
3. Draw a straight line from this to the curve
4. Draw a straight line down from the point to find the half-life of the sample