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Radioactive Decay. Radioactive Decay. Radioactive decay results in the emission of either:. an alpha particle ( a ),. a beta particle ( b ),. or a gamma ray (g). Alpha Decay. An alpha particle is identical to that of a helium nucleus. It contains two protons and two neutrons. A.
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Radioactive Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
Radioactive Decay Radioactive decay results in the emission of either: • an alpha particle (a), • a beta particle (b), • or a gamma ray(g). www.assignmentpoint.com
Alpha Decay An alpha particle is identical to that of a helium nucleus. It contains two protons and two neutrons. www.assignmentpoint.com
A A - 4 X Y + Z Z - 2 4 He 2 Alpha Decay unstable atom alpha particle more stable atom www.assignmentpoint.com
226 222 Ra Rn 88 86 4 He 2 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
+ A - 4 Y A X Z - 2 Z 4 4 226 222 He He Ra Rn + 2 2 88 86 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
222 Rn + 86 A Y Z 222 218 4 4 4 Rn Po He He He + 86 84 2 2 2 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
A X + 230 Th Z 90 234 230 4 4 4 U Th He He He + 92 90 2 2 2 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
230 230 Th Th + A Y 90 90 Z 226 4 4 4 Ra He He He + 88 2 2 2 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
A 218 X Po + 214 Pb Z 84 82 214 4 4 4 Pb He He He + 82 2 2 2 Alpha Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
Beta Decay A beta particle is a fast moving electron which is emitted from the nucleus of an atom undergoing radioactive decay. Beta decay occurs when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron. www.assignmentpoint.com
Beta Decay As a result of beta decay, the nucleus has one less neutron, but one extra proton. The atomic number, Z, increases by 1 and the mass number, A, stays the same. www.assignmentpoint.com
218 218 Po At 84 85 0 b -1 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
A A 0 0 b b X Y + Z Z + 1 -1 -1 218 218 Po Rn + 84 85 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
234 A 0 0 b b Th Y + 90 Z -1 -1 234 234 Th Pa + 90 91 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
A 210 0 0 b b X Pb + Z 82 -1 -1 210 210 Tl Pb + 81 82 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
210 A 0 0 b b Bi Y + 83 Z -1 -1 210 210 Bi Po + 83 84 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
A 214 0 0 b b X Bi + Z 83 -1 -1 214 214 Pb Bi + 82 83 Beta Decay www.assignmentpoint.com
Gamma Decay Gamma rays are not charged particles like a and b particles. Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation with high frequency. When atoms decay by emitting a or b particles to form a new atom, the nuclei of the new atom formed may still have too much energy to be completely stable. This excess energy is emitted as gamma rays (gamma ray photons have energies of ~ 1 x 10-12 J). www.assignmentpoint.com