Nuclear Equations

Conservation Rules

Our AZX notation is used to describe the nuclear reactions that happen during nuclear decay

During nuclear decay, there are two conservation rules that must be remembered:

  • Nucleon number, A, is always conserved
  • Proton number, Z, is always conserved

What this means is that before and after the decay, the total value for A and Z remains the same i.e. the total nucleon number and proton number stay the same before and after the decay

Alpha Decay Equation

If you have radium-226 and it decays, you will produce an alpha particle and the radioactive gas radon-222

Nuclear equations alpha

Beta decay Equation

If you have carbon-14and it decays, you will produce a beta particle, an antineutrino, and nitrogen-14:

Nuclear equations alpha