Complete the Nuclear Decay Table:
| Decay Type | Mass of particle | Charge of particle | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | | +2 | He |
| Beta | 0 | | |
| | 0 | | by |
| Positron Emission | | +1 | |
Gamma
Alpha
Electron
Answer (2)
Alpha decay emits a Helium nucleus with mass 4, charge +2, symbol He.
Beta decay emits an electron with mass 0, charge -1, symbol e-.
A neutrino has mass 0, charge 0, symbol ν .
Positron emission releases a positron with mass 0, charge +1, symbol e+.
Gamma decay emits a gamma ray with mass 0, charge 0, symbol γ .
Electron capture involves capturing an electron with mass 0, charge -1, symbol e-.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We're going to complete the nuclear decay table by identifying the missing information about the particles involved in each type of decay. We need to find the mass, charge, and symbol for each particle.
Identifying Alpha Decay The first row has a decay type labeled 'E?', a charge of +2, and the symbol 'He'. Since Helium (He) has a charge of +2, this indicates Alpha decay. Alpha particles consist of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, giving them a mass of 4.
Understanding Beta Decay In Beta decay, an electron is emitted. Electrons have a charge of -1 and a negligible mass (approximately 0). The symbol for an electron is e-.
Identifying Neutrino Emission The third row has a mass of 0 and the symbol 'by', which is likely a typo and should be ' ν '. This represents a neutrino, which has a charge of 0.
Understanding Positron Emission Positron emission involves the release of a positron. A positron has the same mass as an electron (0) but a positive charge (+1). The symbol for a positron is e+.
Understanding Gamma Decay Gamma decay involves the emission of a gamma ray, which is a high-energy photon. Photons have no mass and no charge. The symbol for a gamma ray is γ .
Understanding Alpha Decay (Revisited) Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus. It has a mass of 4, a charge of +2, and the symbol He.
Understanding Electron Capture Electron capture involves the capture of an electron by the nucleus. The electron has a mass of approximately 0, a charge of -1, and the symbol e-.
Examples
Nuclear decay is used in various applications, such as carbon dating to determine the age of ancient artifacts, medical imaging techniques like PET scans, and in nuclear medicine for targeted cancer therapy. Understanding the properties of emitted particles during nuclear decay is crucial for these applications to ensure accurate measurements and safe handling of radioactive materials. For instance, knowing the charge and mass of alpha particles helps in designing shielding materials to protect against radiation exposure.
The Nuclear Decay Table can be completed with the following details: Alpha decay emits a particle with a mass of 4 (charge +2, symbol He), Beta decay releases an electron (mass 0, charge -1, symbol e-), and Gamma decay emits a gamma ray (mass 0, charge 0, symbol γ). Neutrinos (mass 0, charge 0, symbol ν) can also be associated with beta decay, and positron emission involves a positron (mass 0, charge +1, symbol e+).
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