Nuclear Equations Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

What two quantities must balance on both sides of a nuclear equation?

The total mass number (top numbers) and the total charge / atomic number (bottom numbers).

How is an alpha particle written in a nuclear equation?

$^{4}_{2}\text{He}$ (mass number 4, charge $+2$).

How is a beta-minus particle written in a nuclear equation?

$^{0}_{-1}\text{e}$ (mass number 0, charge $-1$).

How is a positron written in a nuclear equation?

$^{0}_{+1}\text{e}$ (mass number 0, charge $+1$).