What happens during alpha decay?

The unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, which is 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

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How do the mass number and atomic number of an unstable nucleus change during alpha decay?

The mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2. 

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What happens during beta decay?

A neutron decays into a proton and an electron.


The electron is emitted from the nucleus as a beta particle. 

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How do the mass number and atomic number of an unstable nucleus change during beta decay?

The mass number stays the same and the atomic number increases by 1. 

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What happens during gamma decay?

High energy electromagnetic radiation (gamma ray) is emitted from the nucleus.


This often happens alongside alpha or beta decay.

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Do the mass number or atomic number of an unstable nucleus change during gamma decay?

No, the mass and atomic numbers stay the same during gamma decay.

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When writing nuclear decay equations, which 2 ways can we represent an alpha particle?

24​α


or


24​He

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When writing nuclear decay equations, which 2 ways can we represent an  beta particle?

−10​β


or


−10​e

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When writing nuclear decay equations, how do we represent gamma radiation?

γ


(this is the greek symbol 'gamma')

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