Peoples Physics Book Version-2

http://www.ck12.org Chapter 24. Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics Version 2

24.4 Key Applications

Alpha Decay

• Alpha decayis the process in which an isotope releases a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons,^42 He) and
  thus decays into an atom with two less protons.

Example:^23290 Th→^22888 Ra+^42 He

Beta Decay

• Beta decayis the process in which one of the neutrons in an isotope decays, leaving a proton, electron and
  anti-neutrino. As a result, the nucleus decays into an atom that has the same number of nucleons, with one
  neutron replaced by a proton. (Beta positive decay is the reverse process, in which a proton decays into a
  neutron, anti-electron and neutrino.)

Example:^146 C→^147 N+^0 − 1 e−+v