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What is the effect of alpha decay on the atomic number?
The atomic number decreases by 2.
What is the effect of beta-minus decay on the atomic number?
The atomic number increases by 1.
What is the effect of beta-plus decay on the atomic number?
The atomic number decreases by 1.
What is the effect of gamma decay on the atomic and mass number?
Both the atomic number and mass number remain unchanged.
What causes a nucleus to undergo radioactive decay?
An unstable neutron-to-proton ratio within the nucleus.
What is the effect of emitting an alpha particle?
The mass number of the atom decreases by 4.
What happens in alpha decay?
A nucleus emits an alpha particle ($\alpha$ or $\mathrm{He}^{2+}$), decreasing the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4.
What happens in beta-minus decay?
A neutron transforms into a proton, emitting an electron ($e^-$ or $\beta^-$) and an antineutrino ($\bar{v}$). The atomic number increases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.
What happens in beta-plus decay?
A proton transforms into a neutron, emitting a positron ($e^+$ or $\beta^+$) and a neutrino ($v$). The atomic number decreases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.
What happens in gamma decay?
An excited nucleus releases energy by emitting a gamma ray photon ($\gamma$). The atomic number and mass number remain unchanged.
Describe the general process of radioactive decay.
An unstable nucleus spontaneously transforms to achieve stability by emitting particles and energy.
Describe the process of alpha decay.
An unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle ($^4_2He$). The atomic number decreases by 2, and the mass number decreases by 4.
Describe the process of beta-minus decay.
A neutron in the nucleus transforms into a proton, emitting an electron ($e^-$) and an antineutrino ($\bar{v}$). The atomic number increases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.
Describe the process of beta-plus decay.
A proton in the nucleus transforms into a neutron, emitting a positron ($e^+$) and a neutrino ($v$). The atomic number decreases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.
Describe the process of gamma decay.
An excited nucleus releases energy by emitting a gamma ray photon ($\gamma$). The atomic number and mass number remain unchanged.
What happens to a neutron during beta-minus decay?
The neutron transforms into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino.
What happens to a proton during beta-plus decay?
The proton transforms into a neutron, emitting a positron and a neutrino.