COUNTING THE PARTICLES

L.I.•To describe the nucleus•To use nuclear equations to work out what happens during radioactive decay.

Keywords: •Isotopes•Protons and neutrons•α and β particles

To do: Count the number of particles inside the nuclei of these carbon isotopes.

Carbon-14 isotopeNumber of protons = _________Number of neutrons = _________

Carbon-12 isotopeNumber of protons = _________Number of neutrons = _________

CThe number of particles in the nucleus (protons + neutrons)

146

This is the number of protons

Revision: The nucleus of an atom is described by mass number and atomic/proton number.

C126

How does alpha decay change the nucleus?

To do: Write a nuclear equation for this decay.

During a beta decay, A neutron in the nucleus decays to a proton and an electron (β particle).

How does beta decay change the nucleus?

How does beta decay change the nucleus?

To do: Write a nuclear equation for this decay.

QUESTIONS

EXTENSION QUESTION

Nuclear fission