Writing Nuclear Equations
Writing Nuclear Equations Name________________________________
Period_______Date_____________________
1.
Write an equation to describe the alpha decay of a radium-226 nucleus to form a radon nucleus.
2.
Write an equation to describe the alpha decay of a radon nucleus to form a polonium-218 nucleus.
3.
Write an equation to describe the beta decay of a lead-214 nucleus to form a bismuth-214 nucleus.
4.
Write an equation to describe the alpha decay of a uranium-238 nucleus to form a thorium nucleus.
5.
Write an equation to describe the beta decay of a thorium-234 nucleus to form a protactimium nucleus.
6.
Write the series of equations involving three alpha decays and two beta decays that show the transmutation of a uranium-238 nucleus into a radium-226 nucleus.
Isotopic Notation & Nuclear Reactions
1.
How many protons and neutrons do each of the following have? a)
241
95
Am
b)
63
29
Cu
c)
3
__
H
d)
40
__
Ar
2.
The following are elements with mass numbers. Rewrite the numbers in isotopic notation. a) gold-197 b) magnesium-25 c) lead-210 d) iodine-131
3.
Complete the nuclear equation for the alpha emission (decay) for the following isotopes: a)
219
86
Rn
c)
234
92
U
b)
227
89
Ac
d)
253
100
Fm
4.
Complete the nuclear equation for the beta emission (decay) for the following isotopes: a)
42
19
K
c)
14
6
C
b)
131
53
I
d)
253
98
Cf
5.
Complete the following nuclear equations and identify them as either alpha (α) or beta (β) decay. a)
3
1
H
3
2
He + ______
b)
218
84
Po
214
82
Pb + ______
c)
211
83
Bi
207
81
Tl + ______
d)
35
16
S
35
17
Cl + ______
6.
Fill in the blanks in the following radioactive decay series:
224
88
Ra
4
2
He + ______
He + ______
______ +
212
82
Pb
