Chemistry nuclear decay and radiation | Question with 100% correct Answer | Verified

What changes take place in the nucleus when an alpha particle is emitted? - 2 Protons and 2 Neutrons are lost. What is the identity of an alpha particle? - Helium Nucleus What changes take place in the nucleus when a beta particle is emitted? - Neutron is broken into electron and proton. Proton kept and electron released. Which particle is associated with beta decay? - Electron Does the identity of an atom change during radioactive decay? Why or why not? - For alpha and beta decay it does because the proton number changes. During gamma, there is no change of identity, just energy. How does the "Law of Conservation of Matter" explain how you write nuclear equations? - The Law of Conservation of Matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. This is why the mass numbers and atomic numbers of the products must add up to equal the mass number and atomic number of the parent isotope. List the 3 types of radiation (α, β, γ) in order from least penetrating to most penetrating. - Alpha= least Beta= middle Gamma= most Why would you expect alpha particles to be less able to penetrate materials than beta? - The alpha particle is the largest of the three decay particles, so it will not be able to pass through materials as easily. Why are alpha particles and beta particles deflected in opposite directions in an electric field? Why are gamma rays not deflected? - Both alpha and beta particles are charged. Alpha particles have a positive charge (they contain protons, but not electrons) and beta particles have a negative charge. Since their charges are opposite, they will deflect in opposite directions.