Nuclear Radiation Flashcards
What are the three things that can happen when an unstable nucleus decays?
Its nucleus may give out:
An alpha particle.
A beta particle.
It may also give out a gamma ray.
What is an alpha particle?
Two protons and two neutrons – the same as a helium nucleus.
What is a beta particle?
Fast-moving electron.
When does ionisation happen?
Particles lose electrons and become positively charged.
Particles gain electrons and become negatively charged.
What can the nucleus of an atom be represented as?
A is the atomic mass (number of protons + neutrons)
Z is the atomic number (number of protons)
X is chemical symbol (as shown on the periodic table)
What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
The atomic mass number decreases by 4.
The atomic number decreases by 2.
What happens to a nucleus when it emits a beta particle?
The atomic mass number stays the same.
The atomic number increases by one.
