Alpha and beta decay equation practice

Introduction

Alpha and beta particles may be represented in equations in several different ways.
The different exam boards have their own preferences. For example:

Alpha Beta

4 0
2 He –1 e

4 0
2 α –1 β

4 0
2
alpha –1 beta

Regardless of the different ways of writing them, you need to know what each particle is
in order to make sense of things.

Alpha particles are often called a ‘helium-4 nucleus’ as they are identical to the nucleus
of a helium-4 atom (helium’s most common isotope). They consist of two protons and
two neutrons.

Beta particles come in two forms. The one indicated above is a negatively charged
version (or beta-minus particle). There is also a beta-plus form.

Both are quite surprising as, like alpha particles, they come from the nucleus of an
unstable radioactive atom.

Beta-minus particles are fast-moving electrons, emitted when a neutron decays into a
proton in the nucleus.

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 Alpha and beta decay equation practice
Alpha decay
When a radioactive nucleus emits an alpha particle, the decaying nucleus obviously
becomes lighter as it loses four particles: two protons and two neutrons.
All alpha decay equations therefore follow this simple pattern: the atomic number (or
proton number) decreases by two and the mass number decreases by four (since the
nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons).

219 215 4
e.g. 86 radon→ 84
polonium + 2 He

Sometimes, equations will be written with only the chemical symbols of the atoms, in
this case:
219 215 4
86 Rn → 84
Po + 2 He
Notice the reduction in the atomic number from 86 to 84. The two lost protons are of
4
course in the alpha particle ( 2 He). Meanwhile, the mass number has dropped by four,
from 219 to 215.

For alpha decays, you must remember that the mass number must drop by four and the
atomic number must drop by two.

Complete the following equations by writing in the missing numbers:

232 ___ 4 224 ___ 4

90 Th → ___
Ra + 2 He 88 Ra → ___
Rn + 2 He
216 ___ 4
84 Po → ___
Pb + 2 He

Remember to check that things make sense! Like any equation, things must balance. So
add up the mass numbers on the right; they should equal what you began with. Do the
same for the atomic numbers.
Sometimes, you will be expected to balance the decay equations ‘going the other way’.
Try these:

___ 208 4 ___ 221 4

___ Bi → 81
Tl + 2 He ___ Ac → 87
Fr + 2 He
___ 229 4
___ U→ 90
Th + 2 He

You may even have to tackle a combination of both:

___ 234 ___ 237 ___ 4

92 U→ ___
Th + 2 He ___
Np → 91
Pa + ___ He
213 ___ ___
___ Po → 82
Pb + ___ He

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 Alpha and beta decay equation practice
Beta decay

When a radioactive nucleus emits a beta particle, the decaying nucleus once again
changes, but nowhere near as significantly as during alpha decay. As mentioned before,
beta decays come in two types. At GCSE it is usual to consider just beta-minus decay.

Beta-minus decay happens when a neutron changes into a proton in the nucleus, spitting
out an electron (the beta particle) in the process. This results in a more stable nucleus.
Now, you should know that the nucleus only contains protons and neutrons (but no
neutrons in the case of the lightest isotope of hydrogen). There are, of course, no
electrons in any nucleus. It is beyond the scope of a GCSE course to go into how a
neutron can change into a proton and emit an electron (beta particle). For now, just
know that it can happen!

In the process of beta decay, only the tiny beta particle is emitted from the nucleus; no
protons or neutrons leave. This means the mass number of the nucleus before and
after beta decay remains exactly the same. This is clearly worth remembering!

For beta decays, you must remember that mass number is unchanged after the decay.

Meanwhile, since a neutron changes into a proton, the proton number (atomic number)
must increase by one. Again, you need to remember this – and it will always be the same
for beta-minus decay.

14 14 14 14
e.g. 6 carbon → 7
nitrogen + –10 e or 6 C→ 7
N+ 0
–1 e

Notice that the mass number (top row) is unchanged and the atomic number (bottom
row) goes up by one. The beta particle (electron) is shown as having a negative proton
number because it has the opposite electric charge. As with alpha decay equations,
notice that the top row adds up to the same thing on either side of the equation.

For beta(-minus) decays, remember only that the atomic (proton) number increases by
one after the decay.

Complete the following equations by writing in the missing numbers:

64 ___ 0 25 ___ 0
29 Cu → ___
Ni + –1 e 11 Na → ___
Mg + –1 e
56 ___ 0
25 Mn → ___
Fe + –1 e

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 Alpha and beta decay equation practice

As with alpha decay equations, always check that the mass numbers and proton numbers
add up on the top and bottom rows.

Now try these:

___ 10 0 ___ 20 0
___ Be → 5
B+ –1 e ___ F → 10 Ne + –1 e
___ 83 0
___ Br → 36 Kr + –1 e

And then these:

___
125
___ Sb → 52
Te + 0
–1 e
___
87 Fr → 222
___
Ra + ___
–1 e
237
___ U → ___
93
Np + ___
___ e

Finally, write the full decay equations for the following:

222
1. 88 Ra into Rn by alpha decay.

199
2. 79 Au into Hg by beta decay.

215
3. 83 Bi into Po by beta decay, which then, in turn, alpha decays into Pb.

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 Alpha and beta decay equation practice
Answers
Alpha:
232 228 4 224 220 4 216 212 4
90 Th → 88
Ra + 2 He 88 Ra → 86
Rn + 2 He 84 Po → 82
Pb + 2 He

212 208 4 225 221 4 233 229 4

83 Bi → 81
Tl + 2 He 89 Ac → 87
Fr + 2 He 92 U→ 90
Th + 2 He

238 234 4 237 233 4 213 209 4

92 U→ 90
Th + 2 He 93
Np → 91
Pa + 2 He 84 Po → 82
Pb + 2 He

Beta:
64 64 0 25 25 0 56 56 0
29 Cu → 30 Ni + –1 e 11 Na → 12 Mg + –1 e 25 Mn → 26 Fe + –1 e

10 10 0 20 20 0 83 83 0
4 Be → 5
B+ –1 e 9 F → 10 Ne + –1 e 35 Br → 36 Kr + –1 e

125 125 0 222 222 0 237 237 0

51 Sb → 52
Te + –1 e 87 Fr → 88
Ra + –1 e 92 U→ 93
Np + –1 e

Unguided:

222 218 4
1. 88 Ra → 86
Rn + 2 He

199 199 0
2. 79 Au → 80
Hg + –1 e

215 215 215 211 4

0
3. 83 Bi → 84
Po + –1 e then 84
Po → 82 Pb + 2 He

Teaching notes

This worksheet is designed to give students further practice in the completion and
writing of both alpha and beta radioactive decay equations. It assumes that students
have been given a reasonable introduction to both processes in class or through personal
study.

The last page is a compilation of the practice equations from the worksheet.

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 Alpha and beta decay equation practice

Complete the following equations.

232 ___ 4 224 ___ 4
90 Th → ___
Ra + 2 He 88 Ra → ___
Rn + 2 He
216 ___ 4
84 Po → ___
Pb + 2 He

64 ___ 0 25 ___ 0
29 Cu → ___
Ni + –1 e 11 Na → ___
Mg + –1 e
56 ___ 0
25 Mn → ___
Fe + –1 e

___ 208 4 ___ 221 4

___ Bi → 81
Tl + 2 He ___ Ac → 87
Fr + 2 He
___ 229 4
___ U→ 90
Th + 2 He

___ 234 ___ 237 ___ 4

92 U→ ___
Th + 2 He ___
Np → 91
Pa + ___ He
213 ___ ___
___ Po → 82
Pb + ___ He

___ 10 0 ___ 20 0
___ Be → 5
B+ –1 e ___ F → 10 Ne + –1 e
___ 83 0
___ Br → 36 Kr + –1 e

___
125
___ Sb → 52
Te + 0
–1 e
___
87 Fr → 222
___
Ra + ___
–1 e
237
___ U → ___
93
Np + ___
___ e

222
4. 88 Ra into Rn by alpha decay.

199
5. 79 Au into Hg by beta decay.

215
6. 83 Bi into Po by beta decay, which then, in turn, alpha decays into Pb.

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