Topic 4 Nuclear Equatioms Flashcards
What are alpha particles made up of
2 protons and 2 neutrons
What is the mass number reduced by when an alpha particle is emitted
4
What happens to the nucleus after alpha is released
The charge of the nucleus decreases
What can the alpha particle be written as
Helium nucleus 4. He
2
What does the proton number decrease by
2
What is released in beta decay
A neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton and releases a fast moving electron
What has happened to the number of protons in the nucleus after alpha decay
Has increased by 1and increases the atomic number
What happens to the mass of the nucleus after beta decay
Doesn’t change as it has lost a neutron but gained a proton
What is a beta particle written as
- e
-1
What happens to gamma rays mass or charge after decay
Gamma rays are a way of getting rid of excess energy so there is no change to the atomic mass or number
