What is the relative charge of an antineutrino?

Antineutrinos have zero charge.


All neutrinos and antineutrinos have zero charge.

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What is the relative charge of a positron?

+1

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What happens during alpha (α) decay?

An alpha particle (helium nucleus) is emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom.

The atom's atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4.

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What happens during beta minus (β-) decay?

A neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton, electron, and a antineutrino (ν‾\overline{\nu}).

The electron is emitted as a beta particle. 

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

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What happens during beta plus (β+) decay?

A proton in the nucleus decays into a neutron, positron, and a neutrino.

The positron is emitted as a beta plus particle. 

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

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How much does the atomic number decrease as a result of alpha (α) decay?

The atomic number would decrease by 2.

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What is the general decay equation for alpha (α) decay?

The general decay equation for alpha decay is:


ZA​X → Z−2A−4​Y + 24​α

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What is the general decay equation for beta minus (β-) decay?


The general decay equation for beta minus decay is:


ZA​X → Z+1A​Y + −10​β− + νˉe​

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What is the general decay equation for beta plus (β+) decay?


The general decay equation for beta plus decay is:


ZA​X → Z−1A​Y + +10​β− + νe​

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Why was the neutrino hypothesised for beta (β) decay?

The neutrino was hypothesised to account for conservation of energy.

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