Nuclear Equations Flashcards
What are they used for?
To represent radioactive decay.
Alpha particle equation
4 up 2 down He
Beta particle symbol
0 up -1 down e
What can the emission of different type of nuclear radiation cause?
A change in mass and/or charge of nucleus.
Gamma ray emission.
It does not cause a change in mass or charge of the nucleus to change.
Does beta decay cause charge to change?
Yes, cause charge to increase but does not change the mass.
Does alpha decay cause mass to change?
Yes, cause both mass and charge to change.
What process is radioactive decay?
Random process.
What is the half life?
Half life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for the number of nuclei of the isotope in a sample to half or the time it takes for the count rate or activity from a sample containing isotope to fall to half its initial level.
Why is radioactive decay random?
Because it’s impossible to predict when a nucleus will decay and which nucleus in Sample will decay next.
What happens every time a decay occurs?
Random nucleus in isotopes gives off radiation and becomes stable. Usually changes isotope to another element.
What happens to the number of decayed and undecayed nuclei over time?
The number of undecayed nuclei decreases over time number of decayed increase over time.
What is a good model of the random nature of radioactive decay?
Using a dice as isotopes nuclei. If every time - 6 was nucleus decaying then there is 1/6 chance of nucleus decaying. If you rolled 100 dice, you don’t know which will roll a 6 or when.
What happens to the activity over time
Decreases as it’s less likely for a decay to occur as there are fewer undecayed nuclei after every decay.
