All Flashcards
What is the effect of alpha decay on the atomic number of a nucleus?
The atomic number decreases by 2.
What is the effect of alpha decay on the mass number of a nucleus?
The mass number decreases by 4.
What causes radioactive decay?
An imbalance of neutrons and protons in the nucleus, leading to instability.
What is radioactive decay?
The spontaneous breakdown of unstable nuclei, emitting particles and/or energy.
Define half-life.
The time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay.
What is a parent nuclide?
The original unstable nuclide in radioactive decay.
What is a daughter nuclide?
The resulting nuclide after radioactive decay.
What is an alpha particle?
A helium-4 nucleus consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
What happens during alpha decay?
An unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, decreasing the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4.