Alpha decay is a radioactive decay, in which unstable atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and decaying in to a daughter nucleus.The alpha particle is known as helium nucleus. The atomic number of daughter nucleus will be reduced by two and mass number will be reduced by four.
The alpha decay is given by,
...(1)
Where,
Beta decay is a radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus is decaying in to a new nuclei with the emission of an electron and an anti-electron neutrino. The atomic number of the newly formed nuclei is increased by a factor of one and mass number remains the same.
Beta decay is given by,
...(2)
Where,
1)
Since there is a helium nucleus present in the decay equation, it is -decay.
From equation (1)
The atomic number is reduced by two and mass number is reduced by four. The newly formed nucleus is polonium with atomic number 84 and mass number 212.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps