Radioactivity

Question 1

Alpha Decay

a) Mechanism
b) Changes in subatomic particles

Answer 1

a) A large nucleus wants to become more stable by reducing protons and neutrons.
b) Loss of 2 neutrons and 2 protons

Question 2

Beta- Decay

a) Mechanism
b) Changes in subatomic particles

Answer 2

a) A nucleus has too many neutrons and breaks a neutron down into an electron (beta- particle) and a proton.
b) 1 less neutron, 1 more proton

Question 3

Positron Emission

a) Mechanism
b) Changes in subatomic particles

Answer 3

a) A nucleus has too few neutrons, so it breaks a proton down into a neutron and a positron.
b) 1 more neutron, 1 less proton

Question 4

Electron Capture

a) Mechanism
b) Changes in subatomic particles

Answer 4

a) A nucleus has too few neutrons, so it captures an electron and converts a proton into a neutron.
b) 1 less electron, 1 less proton, 1 more neutron

Question 5

Gamma Decay

a) Mechanism
b) Changes in subatomic particles

Answer 5

a) A nucleus is in an excited state (common after alpha or beta decay) and emits a gamma photon.
c) No change