What changes occur in a nucleus of a radioactive element when it emits (a) an alpha particle, (b) a beta particle, (c) gamma radiation? Give one example, in each case (a) and (b) in support of your answer.
Radioactivity
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Question

What changes occur in a nucleus of a radioactive element when it emits (a) an alpha particle, (b) a beta particle, (c) gamma radiation? Give one example, in each case (a) and (b) in support of your answer.

Radioactivity

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KnowledgeBoat · Accepted Answer

(a) If the nucleus X of a radioactive element of mass number A and atomic number Z emits an α particle, the daughter nucleus Y of a new element has mass number equal to (A - 4) and atomic number equal to (Z - 2). Thus, atomic number decreases by 2 units and mass number decreases by 4 units. Example When a radioactive uranium nucleus emits an α particle, a new nucleus thorium is formed and the change is represented as follows (b) In emitting a β particle, the number of nucleons in the nucleus remains same, but the number of neutrons is decreased by one and the number of protons is increased by one. If a radioactive nucleus P with mass number A and atomic number Z emits a β particle to form a daughter nucleus Q with mass number A and atomic number Z + 1, the change can be represented as follows: Example A radioactive carbon nucleus , having 14 nucleons (6 protons and 8 neutrons) emits a β particle and changes to a new nucleus nitrogen having 14 nucleons (7 protons and 7 neutrons). The change is represented as follows (c) There is no change in the mass number A and atomic number Z of the nucleus in gamma emission. It is represented as follows: Here the star indicates the excited state of the nucleus. Thus in gamma emission, the excited nucleus comes to its ground state.

Physics

What changes occur in a nucleus of a radioactive element when it emits (a) an alpha particle, (b) a beta particle, (c) gamma radiation? Give one example, in each case (a) and (b) in support of your answer.

Radioactivity

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