Nuclear Reactions

alpha-decay particle

on products side

What type of nuclear decay would an atom with a large nucleus likely undergo?

Alpha decay

What is the result of alpha decay?

a reduction in mass

B decay (B emission) particle

on products side

What is the result of B emission?

neutron transformed into proton

An atom has too high of a neutron to proton ratio, what type of decay is it likely to undergo?

Beta decay (B emission)

B+ decay (positron emission) particle

on products side

Positron emission result

conversion of a proton into a neutron

An atom has too low of a neutron to proton ratio, which type(s) of decay is it likely to undergo?

Electron capture or B+ decay (positron emission)

Electron capture particle

on reactant side

What order of kinetics is radioactive decay?

always first order, half-life is constant

Nuclear half-life equation

t_1/2 = 0.693/k

t_1/2 = half-life

k = decay constant

An element is stable against nuclear decomposition, what must be true of this element?

Its nuclear binding energy must be high