Nuclear Equations: Understanding Radioactive Decay and Balancing Equations

The video tutorial explains how radioactive decay can be represented using nuclear equations. It covers the symbols for alpha and beta particles and provides examples of alpha decay with radon and polonium, and beta decay with carbon and nitrogen. The tutorial also demonstrates how to balance nuclear equations and identify missing elements in decay processes, using examples like radium to radon and iodine to xenon.

What is the atomic number of an alpha particle?

• 2

• 0

• 1

• 4

In an alpha decay equation, what must be conserved on both sides?

• Only mass number

• Only atomic number

• Both mass and atomic numbers

• Neither mass nor atomic numbers

During beta decay, what happens to the atomic number of the nucleus?

• Increases by 1

• Doubles

• Decreases by 1

• Remains the same

What is the mass number of a beta particle?

• 4

• 0

• 2

• 1

In the example of radium decaying into radon, what type of decay is occurring?

• Alpha decay

• Neutron emission

• Beta decay

• Gamma decay

When iodine-131 undergoes beta decay, what element does it transform into?

• Radon

• Carbon

• Xenon

• Polonium

How do you determine the missing element in a nuclear equation?

• By checking the periodic table

• By using a calculator

• By balancing mass and atomic numbers

• By guessing