Nuclear Equations

Question 1

What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?

Answer 1

The nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons, so:

• Mass number decreases by 4
• Atomic number decreases by 2

Question 2

What happens in beta-minus decay?

Answer 2

A neutron changes into a proton and an electron, so:

• Mass number doesn’t change
• Atomic number increases by 1

Question 3

What happens in beta-plus decay?

Answer 3

A proton changes into a neutron and a positron, so:

• Mass number doesn’t change
• Atomic number decreases by 1

Question 4

What happens when a nucleus emits a neutron?

Answer 4

• Mass number decreases by 1
• Atomic number stays the same

Question 5

What happens to the mass and atomic numbers after a gamma ray has been emitted?

Answer 5

They both stay the same

Question 6

(Exam-style question)

Answer 6

Question 7

(Exam-style question)

Answer 7