A

Z
X
A = number of protons + number of neutrons
Z = number of protons

A – Z = number of neutrons

Number of neutrons = Mass Number – Atomic Number

Radioactive Decay
What is a radioactive decay?

• an exothermic process
• one way that a nucleus can become less
energetic to stable
• it consists of an initial nucleus or parent
nuclide and a new nucleus called
daughter nucleus
Radioactive decay results in the
emission of either:

• an alpha particle (a),

• a beta particle (b),

• or a gamma ray(g).
Alpha Decay or a-decay
An alpha particle is identical to that of a helium nucleus.

It contains two protons and two neutrons.

In symbols,
4
2 He
Alpha particle
• travels at a maximum speed of 10% of the
speed of light
• stopped by a piece of paper or by the skin
• dangerous when ingested or inhaled
• ionizes or pulls away electrons from the
atoms within the tissue
• strong ionizing power
 Radium Radon
+ n p
p n
R226 Rn222
a (4He)
88 protons 86 protons 2 protons

A decreases by 4 and Z decreases by 2.

 A A-4 4

Z
X Z-2
Y + 2
He

unstable atom alpha particle

more stable atom
 222
226 Rn
88
Ra 86

2
He
222 4

86
Rn + 2 He

222 218 4

86
Rn 84
Po + 2
He
 230 4

90
Th + 2
He

234 230 4

92
U 90
Th + 2
He
230 4

90
Th + 2 He

230 226 4

90
Th 88
Ra + 2
He
 214 4

82
Pb + 2
He

218 214 4

84
Po 82
Pb + 2
He
Beta or b-decay
b- -decay
electron emission

b+ -decay
positron emission

The atomic number is changed by 1, but the mass number

remains constant
Beta Particles

• high energy and velocity

• travel at a maximum speed of about
90% of the speed of light
• penetrate about 4 mm of living
tissue and can cause burns
• weak ionizing power
Negatron Decay
• ejection of a beta particle from the nucleus from the
conversion of a neutron into a proton and the
expulsion of 0-1e.
• The product nuclide will have the same A but will be
one atomic number higher.
A
Z X  Y b A
Z 1
-

b- is an electron
 Carbon Nitrogen +
C14 N14 e-

6 protons 7 protons electron

(beta-particle)
 218
218 At
84
Po 85

b
0

-1
Positron Decay

•a positron (01e) is the antiparticle of an electron.

•A proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron
with the expulsion of the positron.
•A remains the same but the atomic number
decreases.
A
Z X  Y b A
Z -1


β+ is an anti-electron or positron
 122 I 122 0
Te + 1 e
53 52

38 K 38 0
Ar + 1 e
19 18
Electron Capture (K)
• a nuclear proton is converted into a neutron
by the capture of an electron.
• results in a decrease in Z number of the
daughter nucleus and no change in A number
• characteristic X rays are emitted

0 -
A
X  e  Z -1Y  X - ray
A

-1
Z
 0 -
133
Ba  e  Cs  X - ray
133

-1
56 55

172
71 Lu  Yb  x rays
172
70
188
78 Pt  Ir  x rays
188
77
 b
A 0

Z
X + -1

b
218 218 0

84
Po 85
Rn + -1
 b
234 0

90
Th + -1

b
234 234 0

90
Th 91
Pa + -1
Gamma or g-decay
• are not charged particles like a and b particles.
•are electromagnetic radiation with high frequency.
•when atoms decay by emitting a or b particles to form a
new atom, the nuclei of the new atom formed may still
have too much energy to be completely stable.
•this excess energy is emitted as gamma rays (gamma ray
photons have energies of ~ 1 x 10-12 J).

A
Z X X g A
Z
Gamma rays

• high energy radiation similar to x rays

• extremely penetrating and can pass through
several meters of concrete
• very weak ionization power
• highly energetic and can cause ionization as
they penetrate matter
Gamma particles (g)
In much the same way that electrons in atoms can be in an
excited state, so can a nucleus.

Neon Neon
Ne20 Ne20 +

10 protons 10 protons
gamma
10 neutrons 10 neutrons
(in excited state) (lowest energy state)

A gamma is a high energy light particle.

It is NOT visible by your naked eye because it is not in

the visible part of the EM spectrum.
110m
47 Ag  ______  g

110m
47 Ag  Ag  g
110
47
  In  g
115
49

115
49 In In  g
115
49
Characteristics of Some Ionizing Radiations

Property Alpha Decay Negatron Decay Positron Decay Gamma Decay

High Energy EM
Composition Helium Nucleus Free Electron Antiparticle of electron
Radiation

Symbol 4
2He 0
-1 e 0 e g
1

Ionization Power Strong Weak Weak Very Weak

Carbon-14
Common Source Radium-226 Carbon-14 Cobalt-60

Low Medium High

Penetrating Medium
(0.05 mm body (4 mm body tissue) (goes through the
Power (4 mm body tissue)
tissue) body)

Metal Foil
Shielding Paper, clothing Metal Foil Lead & Concrete
 210 0

82
Pb + -1
e

210 210 0

81
Tl 82
Pb + -1
e
 g
224

88
Ra +

g
224 224

88
Ra 88
Ra +
 23 0
Mg + e
12 1

23 23 0

12
Mg 11
Na + 1
e
 127 0
Te + e
52 1

127 127 0

53
I 52
Te + 1
e
 0 e+ 197 Au
-1 79

0 e + 80 197 Hg 197 Au
-1 79
 0 55
e + 26 Fe
-1

0 55
e + 26 Fe 55 Mn
-1 25
210 0

83
Bi + -1
e

210 210 0

83
Bi 84
Po + -1
e
 g
152
Eu +
63

g
152 152

63
Eu 63
Eu +
 0 e + 87 223 Fr
-1

0 e + 87 223 Fr 223 Rn
-1 86
 122 0
Sn + e
50 1

122 122 0

51
Sb 50
Sn + 1
e
186 0

73
Ta + -1
e
186 186 0

73
Ta 74
W + -1
e