Radioactive decay Flashcards
effect of alpha α decay on the mass and charge of the nucleus
nuclear mass reduced by 4
atomic number reduced by 2
mass number reduced by 4
positive charge reduced by 2 (-2)
effect of beta β- decay on the mass and charge of the nucleus
no change to mass (0)
atomic number increases by 1
positive charge increased by +1
effect of beta β+ decay on the mass and charge of the nucleus
no change to mass (0)
atomic number decreases by 1
positive charge reduced by 1 (-1)
effect of gamma γ decay on the mass and charge of the nucleus
no effect
effect of neutron decay/radiation on the mass and charge of a nucleus
mass reduced by one
no change to charge
effect of alpha and beta +/- decay on the atomic/mass number
alpha:
atomic number decreases by 2
mass number decreases by 4
beta -:
atomic number increases by 1
mass number is unchanged
beta +:
atomic number decreases by 1
mass number is unchanged
how will the total mass and charge of each side in a nuclear decay equation compare?
they will be conserved/balanced/equal
Balance the nuclear equations for these decays:
a) Iodine-121 undergoes β+ decay to form tellurium. [2]
b) an isotope of carbon undergoes beta- decay to form nitrogen-14 [2]
c) Radon-220 undergoes alpha decay to form an isotope of polonium [2]
a) [121][53]I -> [121][52]Te + [0][+1]β
b) [14][6]C -> [14][7]N + [0][-1]β
c) [220][86]Rn -> [216][84]Po + [4][2]He
A thorium-232 nucleus undergoes alpha decay to become radium. Write a balanced equation to show this. [2]
[232][990] -> [228][88]Ra + [4][2]He
A nucleus decays by alpha decay, followed by two beta- decays, and then neutron decay. If the original nucleus had a mass number of A and proton number of Z, what would the mass number and the proton number be of the resulting nucleus? [4]
final mass number will be A - 5, nucleus loses two protons and three neutrons
atomic number of Z does not change, number of protons decreases by 2 from alpha decay, then increases by 2 from the 2 beta- decays
