Talha's Physics Academy
Nuclear Changes Due to Emission of Alpha and Beta Particles
1. Alpha ($\alpha$) Decay
"When a nucleus $_Z^A X$ disintegrates by the emission of an $\alpha$-particle, its charge number ($Z$) decreases by $2$ and its mass number ($A$) decreases by $4$."
General symbolic equation for alpha decay:
$$_Z^A X \rightarrow _{Z-2}^{A-4} Y + _2^4\text{He} \text{ ($\alpha$ – Particle)}$$
Example of Alpha Decay
Radium decaying into Radon via alpha emission:
$_{88}^{226}\text{Ra} \rightarrow _{86}^{222}\text{Rn} + _2^4\text{He} \text{ ($\alpha$ – Particle)}$$
2. Beta ($\beta$) Decay
"When a nucleus $_Z^A X$ disintegrates by the emission of a $\beta$-particle, its charge number ($Z$) increases or decreases by $1$, while its mass number ($A$) remains unchanged."
Negative Beta ($\beta^-$) Decay
In negative beta decay, a neutron converts into a proton, emitting an electron ($\beta^-$) and an antineutrino. The charge number increases by $1$ ($Z + 1$).
$$_Z^A X \rightarrow _{Z+1}^A Y + \beta^- \text{ (electron)}$$
Example: Carbon-14 decaying into Nitrogen-14:
$_6^{14}\text{C} \rightarrow _7^{14}\text{N} + \beta^-$
Positive Beta ($\beta^+$) Decay
In positive beta decay, a proton converts into a neutron, emitting a positron ($\beta^+$) and a neutrino. The charge number decreases by $1$ ($Z - 1$).
$$_Z^A X \rightarrow _{Z-1}^A Y + \beta^+ \text{ (positron)}$$
Example: Carbon-10 decaying into Boron-10:
$_6^{10}\text{C} \rightarrow _5^{10}\text{B} + \beta^+$
Fig: Symbolic representation of mass number and atomic number transformations during alpha and beta radioactive decays.
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