
home	test	exam	game	contact

Nuclear Decay

Key Concepts

alpha particles:
identity: helium nucleus, ⁴₂He
charge: 2+
beta particles:
identity: high energy electrons, ⁰_-1e
(emitted when a neutron decays to form a proton and an electron)
charge: -1
gamma rays:
identity: high energy electromagnetic radiation (accompany alpha or beta decay)
charge: none
Mass Numbers (A) on the left hand side of the nuclear decay equation must
equal the sum of the mass numbers on the right hand side of the equation
Atomic Numbers (Z) on the left hand side of the nuclear decay equation must
equal the sum of the atomic numbers on the right hand side of the equation

Flash Tutorial

(You may need to install a plugin to watch this tutorial)
The link to the download will open in a new window.

Examples

alpha decay

²³⁸₉₂U decays to form ²³⁴₉₀Th + ⁴₂He

daughter nucleus (thorium-234) has 2 less protons
and neutrons than the parent nucleus (uranium-238)

beta decay

¹⁴₆C decays to produce ¹⁴₇N + ⁰_-1e

daughter nucleus (nitrogen-14) has 1 more proton
and 1 less neutron than parent nucleus (carbon-14)

advertise on the AUS-e-TUTE website and newsletters

Search this Site

You can search this site using a key term or a concept to find tutorials, tests, exams and learning activities (games).

Become an AUS-e-TUTE Member

AUS-e-TUTE members have access to the Test Centre which contains learning activities (games), tests and exams with worked solutions.

Find out more about AUS-e-TUTE membership.

Become an AUS-e-TUTE member.

Register for your Free Newsletter

AUS-e-NEWS quarterly newsletter

Ask Chris, the Chemist, a Question

The quickest way to find the definition of a term is to ask Chris, the AUS-e-TUTE Chemist.

Chris can also send you to the relevant
AUS-e-TUTE tutorial topic page.

Related AUS-e-TUTE Topics

Properties and Uses of Radiation and Isotopes

Uses of Carbon-14 for Dating

Uses of radioisotopes in Smoke Detectors

Half-Life Definitions and Calculations

Bookmark AUS-e-TUTE

Bookmark this site!

© AUS-e-TUTE