Radioactive Decay

Nuclear transmutation

________ is a first- order process.

Alpha decay

________: the loss of an α- particle.

Beta decay

________: the loss of a β- particle.

Γ ray

________: high- energy radiation that almost always accompanies the loss of a nuclear particle:

Nt

________ is the mass, or number of particles at time t.

Positron

________: a particle that has the same mass as, but an opposite charge to, that of an electron.

Α particle

________: a helium nucleus.

Electron capture

________ (K- capture): addition of an electron to a proton in the nucleus.

Alpha decay

the loss of an α-particle

α-particle

a helium nucleus

Beta decay

the loss of a β-particle

β-particle

a high-energy electron

Positron emission

the loss of a positron

Positron

a particle that has the same mass as, but an opposite charge to, that of an electron

Gamma emission

the loss of a γ-ray

γ-ray

high-energy radiation that almost always accompanies the loss of a nuclear particle

Electron capture (K-capture)

addition of an electron to a proton in the nucleus