alpha beta and gamma decay equations
TRANSCRIPT
Alpha,beta and gamma decay equations
Alpha decay is the emission of 2 protons and 2 neutrons from the nucleus
Can be represented by
Helium
Mass number falls by 4 and atomic number falls by 2
The LHS and RHS of the equations must balance
Beta is an electrons being ejected from the nucleus
For this to happen a neutron changes into a proton
Mass number stays the same but atomic number increases by 1
Gamma is just surplus energy
Gamma emission makes no change to the atomic number or mass number