Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A nuclear equation is a type of symbol equation used to show the changes which take place in a radioactive decay.
About Nuclear Equations
- Nuclear equations can be used to predict the products of a radioactive decay or a series of decays which take place one after the other.
- In nuclear equations the relative atomic mass and relative atomic charge accompany the symbols for the elements and the ionising radiation they produce.
General Formulae
Alpha Decay
\({}_Z^AX \rightarrow {}_{Z-2}^{A-4}Y + {}_4^2\alpha\)
Beta Decay
\({}_Z^AX \rightarrow {}_{Z+1}^{A}Y + {}_{-1}^0\beta\)
Gamma Emission
\({}_Z^AX \rightarrow {}_Z^AX + {}_0^0\gamma\)
Neutron Decay
\({}_Z^AX \rightarrow {}_{Z}^{A-1}Y + {}_0^1n\)
Examples
Calculating the Element/Isotope
\({}_238^92U \rightarrow {}_234^90Th + {}_4^2\alpha\)