Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet Init 5/11/2012 by Daniel R. Barnes based on a years-old worksheet U  mass number = # of protons + # of neutrons atomic number = # of protons

Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  ?? ??? 4 2 He alpha particle An alpha particle has a mass number of 4 and an atomic number of two. Because of its atomic number, an alpha particle is, essentially, a helium nucleus.

He Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  4 2 ?? ??? Th Alpha decay make a nucleus’ mass number go down by four. Alpha decay also makes a nucleus’ atomic number go town by two.

Th He Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  4 2  ?? ??? 0 e An beta particle has a mass number of 0 and an atomic number of negative one. A beta particle is, essentially, an electron that gets shot out of a radioactive nucleus at very high speed. beta particle

Th He Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  4 2 ?? ??? Pa  0 e During beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of the atom splits into a proton and an electron. The proton remains in the nucleus, causing its atomic number to increase by one, while the electron is ejected as a beta particle.

Almost. The atomic number is the same, but the mass number has changed Th Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  Pa   U It looks like the uranium atom has turned back into uranium again, but is it exactly the way it was at the beginning? The atom is now the same element it used to be, but it is a different isotope of uranium.

Th Radioactive Decay Series Worksheet U  Pa   U  Th Alpha decay causes mass number to go down by four and atomic number to go down by two. Beta decay causes mass number to stay the same and atomic number to go up by one. SUMMARY: A gamma particle might come out during alpha or beta decay, but when it does, it does not affect the mass number or the atomic number.