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How is the atomic number of a nucleus change is it by alpha decay or beta decay or gamma decay?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Alpha decay decreases the atomic number by two.
Beta- decay increases the atomic number by one.
Beta+ decay decreases the atomic number by one.
Gamma decay does not change the atomic number. However, gamma decay is often incidental to a precipitating alpha or beta event that upsets the energy equilibrium in the nucleus, so the two are not unrelated.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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When an unstable nucleus produces an alpha particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 protons, which means its atomic number will be reduced by 2.
How is the atomic mass number of a nucleus changed by alpha decay or by beta decay or by gamma decay?
The mass does not change much. The Atomic number will increase though.
What does An alpha particle has the same mass and atomic number as?
Helium nucleus
Nucleus of the chemical element atomic number 2 emitted by some radioactive substances?
alpha particle, He nucleus
How does alpha decay change the nucleus?
Nucleus minus two protons and minus two neutrons (alpha particles are 4He nucleii)
When an unstable nucleus produces an alpha particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 protons, which means its atomic number will be reduced by 2.
What is the effect on the mass number and change of a nucleus when it loses alpha particles?
The mass number goes down by 4, and the atomic number goes down by 2 when a nucleus loses an alpha particle. XYZ --> alpha emission --> X-2Y-4Q + 24He2+
An alpha has the same mass and atomic number as an?
A+. . .. . . . helium nucleus
If a radioactive nucleus with an atomic number of 88 emits an alpha particle what will the atomic number of the new nucleus be?
Two less, since the alpha particle takes away two protons.
How is the atomic mass number of a nucleus changed by alpha decay or by beta decay or by gamma decay?
The mass does not change much. The Atomic number will increase though.
What does An alpha particle has the same mass and atomic number as?
Helium nucleus
What change in atomic number occurs when a nucleus emits an alpha particles?
An alpha particle has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This would make the atomic number decrease by 2 and the Atomic Mass will decrease by 4.
Nucleus of the chemical element atomic number 2 emitted by some radioactive substances?
alpha particle, He nucleus
What radiation results in the greatest change in atomic number?
Setting aside spontaneous fission, which is the natural "splitting" of an atom into fissin fragments, it is alpha decay that results in the greatest change in atomic number. The alpha particle carries off a helium-4 nucleus, which is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons. Atomic number of an element involved in an alpha decay goes down by two.
How does alpha decay change the nucleus?
Nucleus minus two protons and minus two neutrons (alpha particles are 4He nucleii)
When radium atomic number 88 emits an alpha particle the resulting nucleus has atomic numbers?
226Ra------------alpha particle----------222Rn (radon, a radioactive gas)
What happens to the atomic number when an isotope releases gamma radiation?
It depends on what caused the gamma event in the first place.Strictly speaking, gamma radiation is caused by the de-excitation of the nucleus, so the atomic number (and Atomic Mass) does not change during a gamma event.However, the gamma event is usually precipitated by some other event, such as a beta or alpha decay that does change the configuration of the nucleus. An alpha event reduces the atomic number by 2 (and reduces the atomic mass by 4), while the beta event increases the atomic number by 1 (and does not change the atomic mass very much).Its actually more complex than that, but the answer to the original question is that nothing really happens to the atomic number during a gamma event.
