Nuclear Equations Flashcards
What do nuclear equations show?
Show radioactive decay .
Written using : Atom before decay -> atom after decay + radiation emitted
BUT total mass and atomic number must be equal on both sides.
How do alpha particles effect nuclei in equations?
It loses two protons and two neutrons
mass number decreases by 4
Atomic number decreases by 2
How do beta minus particles effect nuclei in equations?
A neutron changes into a proton and an electron :
Mass number doesn’t change as lost a proton but gained a proton
Atomic Number increase by 1 as 1 more proton
How do beta plus particles effect nuclei in equations?
A proton changes into a neutron and a positron :
The mass number doesn’t change as lost a proton but gained a neutron
The atomic number decreases by 1 as it has 1 less proton
How do neutron particles effect nuclei in equations?
The mass number decreases by 1 as it has lost a neutron
The atomic number stays the same
What does gamma rays do to a nucleus?
It doesn’t change the mass of atomic number
It’s a way of getting rid of excess energy
