Nuclear Equations

Nuclear Chemistry Notes Most atoms have stable nuclei, meaning they stay the same forever. Other nuclei are unstable. Unstable nuclei can have a type of nuclear reaction called radioactive decay During radioactive decay, an atom’s nucleus breaks off a small part and ejects it (spits it out) at high speed, and as a result it changes into a different element.. There are two types of nuclear decay, alpha and beta. During alpha decay a nucleus is splitting into two smaller elements, one of which is always a helium nucleus. The helium nucleus is the alpha particle (α). During beta decay a n0 inside the nucleus of an atom emits (gives off) an e-, which turns that n0 into a p+. The e- is a beta particle (β).

Nuclear Chemistry Notes There are two types of nuclear decay, alpha and beta. During alpha decay a nucleus is splitting into two smaller elements, one of which is always a helium nucleus. The helium nucleus is the alpha particle (α). During beta decay a n0 inside the nucleus of an atom emits (gives off) an e-, which turns that n0 into a p+. The e- is a beta particle (β). In both alpha and beta decay, the original nucleus (parent isotope) is changed into a different element (daughter isotope)! In all nuclear reactions the total mass (sum of top numbers) and the total charge (sum of the bottom numbers) MUST BE THE SAME ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE RIGHT SIDE!