This document discusses three types of radioactive decay: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha decay involves emitting two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus, represented by helium, which decreases the mass and atomic number by 4 and 2 respectively. Beta decay occurs when an electron is ejected from the nucleus, which changes a neutron to a proton, keeping the mass the same but increasing the atomic number by 1. Gamma decay simply releases excess energy without changing the mass or atomic number.

1. Alpha,beta and gamma decay
equations

2. Alpha decay is the emission of 2
protons and 2 neutrons from the
nucleus
Can be
represented by
Helium

3. Mass number falls by 4 and atomic
number falls by 2

4. The LHS and RHS of the equations
must balance

5. Beta is an electrons being ejected
from the nucleus

6. For this to happen a neutron changes
into a proton

7. Mass number stays the same but
atomic number increases by 1

8. Gamma is just surplus energy

9. Gamma emission makes no change to
the atomic number or mass number