Did this video help you?
Nuclear Equations (Edexcel GCSE Physics)
Revision Note
Nuclear Equations
Use given data to balance nuclear equations in terms of mass and charge
- Nuclear radioactive decay equations show the changes in mass and charge of the nuclei in the decay
- Each term will have the chemical symbol of the element or the type of radiation
Nuclear notation
- The top number A represents the nucleon number or the mass number
- Nucleon number (A) = total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
- The lower number Z represents the proton or atomic number
- Proton number (Z) = total number of protons in the nucleus
- Nuclear equations, just like chemical equations, balance:
- The sum of the nucleon (mass) numbers on the left of each equation should equal the sum on the right
- The sum of the proton (atomic) numbers should also balance on the left and right
- The parent nucleus is the nucleus that decays
- Subsequently, the daughter nucleus remaining after the decay
Alpha Decay Equation
- In nuclear equations representing alpha decay:
- The nucleon number of the daughter nucleus is 4 less than the parent
- The proton number of the daughter nucleus is 2 less than the parent
Alpha decay equation
Beta Minus Decay Equation
- In nuclear equations representing beta minus decay:
- The nucleon number of the daughter nucleus is the same as the parent
- The proton number of the daughter nucleus is 1 more than the parent
Beta-minus decay equation
Beta Plus Decay Equation
- In nuclear equations representing beta plus decay:
- The nucleon number of the daughter nucleus is the same as the parent
- The proton number of the daughter nucleus is 1 less than the parent
Beta-plus decay equation
Gamma Decay Equation
- In nuclear equations representing gamma decay:
- The nucleon number of the daughter nucleus is the same as the parent
- The proton number of the daughter nucleus is the same as the parent
Gamma decay equation
Worked example
ANSWER: D
You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?