ATOMIC STRUCTURE

NUCLEAR EQUATIONS
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate an understanding of nuclear equations and how to write them.

KEY WORDS
nuclear equation, alpha decay, beta decay, alpha emission, beta emission, balance

TASK
Use the periodic table to help you to answer these questions.
01. In each decay, identify what radiation has been emitted.
a. Po-215 decays to At-215
b. Rn-220 decays to Po-216
c. Re-187 decays to Ta-183
d. Ni-66 decays to Cu-66
0.2 Identify the products of each decay. Write your answers in the form:
220
a. 87 Fr decaying by alpha emission
b. 167N decaying by beta emission
90
c. 38 Sr decaying by beta emission

d. 239
94 Pu decaying by alpha emission

03, Write balanced nuclear equations (using symbols and including atomic numbers and
mass numbers) for the following decays:
a. Potassium-42 decaying by beta emission
b. Thorium-230 decaying by alpha emission
c. Polonium-210 decaying to Lead-206
d. Rhodium-105 decaying to Palladium-105
222
04. 86 Rn undergoes radioactive decay to the stable isotope, 206
82 Pb . There are several
steps in its decay chain. The steps are as follows: alpha, alpha, beta, beta, alpha,
beta, beta, alpha.
A
Write balanced nuclear equations for each step of the decay using the form Z X

Your answers (continue on a separate sheet)

GCSE Physics | Homework Task | ©HarperCollinsPublishers Limited 2016

 ATOMIC STRUCTURE

GCSE Physics | Homework Task | ©HarperCollinsPublishers Limited 2016