Memory Anchor:

• Super Challenge:

  Stretch:

  Challenge:

Key Questions:

1. How can nuclear equations be used?
   • Nuclear equations are used to represent radioactive decay.
2. What symbol represents an alpha particle?
   • An alpha Particle is represent by the following symbol: α
3. What symbol represents a beta particle?
   • An beta Particle is represented by the following symbol: β
4. What does the emission of the different types of nuclear radiation cause?
   • The emission of the different types of nuclear radiation may cause a change in the mass and /or the charge of the nucleus.
5. What does alpha decay cause?
   • Alpha decay causes both the mass and charge of the nucleus to decrease.
6. What does Beta decay cause?
   • Beta decay does not cause the mass of the nucleus to change but does cause the charge of the nucleus to increase.
7. How to balance alpha (α) and beta (β) decay equations?
   • During alpha decay- A new element is formed that is two places lower in the Periodic Table than the original element. For example, radon decays into polonium when it emits an alpha Particle. In beta decay, a neutron changes into a proton plus an electron. The proton stays in the nucleus. The electron leaves the atom with high Energy as a beta Particle. The nucleus has one more proton and one less neutron when it emits a beta Particle. This means that: The atomic mass number stays the same The atomic number increases by 1
8. What happens during the emission of a gamma ray?
   • The emission of a gamma ray does not cause the mass or the charge of the nucleus to change.