1. How does the emission of an alpha particle change the mass number (A) of the parent nuclide? How does the atomic number (Z) change? Write a general equation

Explanation:

How does the emission of an alpha particle change the mass number (A) of the parent nuclide?

Alpha decay occurs primarily in heavy nuclei (A > 200, Z > 83). ... Such nuclei lie above the band of stability. Emission of an electron does not change the mass number of the nuclide but does increase the number of its protons and decrease the number of its neutrons.

How does the atomic number (Z) change?

Proton-deficient or neutron-deficient nuclei undergo nuclear decay reactions that serve to correct unbalanced neutron/proton ratios. Proton-deficient nuclei undergo beta decay - emitting a beta particle (electron) and an antineutrino to convert a neutron to a proton - thus raising the elements atomic number Z by one

Write a general equation that can be followed for the alpha

decay process.

In the alpha decay of U238 (Equation 17.3. 1), both atomic and mass numbers are conserved: mass number: 238=4+234.