Decay & Transformations Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What happens to the mass number and atomic number when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?

Mass number decreases by 4; atomic number decreases by 2.

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in beta-minus decay?

Mass number stays the same; atomic number increases by 1.

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in beta-plus (positron) decay?

Mass number stays the same; atomic number decreases by 1.

What happens to the mass number and atomic number when a nucleus emits a neutron, and when it emits gamma radiation?

Neutron emission: mass number decreases by 1, atomic number unchanged. Gamma: both unchanged.

Why is gamma radiation emitted after a nucleus has decayed?

The nucleus rearranges and loses energy as gamma radiation to become more stable.