Question

what changes occur to the atomic number and mass of a nucleus during each of the following decay scenerios:the atomic number decreases by 2 and mass number decrease by 4. the atomic number increases by 1 mass number remains unchanged. the atomic number and mass number remain unchanged. the atomic number decreases by 1 and mass number remains unchanged. the atomic number decrease by 1 and mass number remains unchanged.

Answer 1

a is the atomic mass and b is the atomic number. X is atomic symbol of atom going emission. Y is atomic symbol of newly formed atom.

In an alpha decay the atomic number decreases by 2 and mass number decreases by 4.

In a beta decay the atomic number increases by 1 and mass number remains unchanged.

In a gamma decay the atomic number and mass number both remain unchanged.

In a positron decay the atomic number decreases by 1 and mass number remains unchanged.