Four principal decay modes of unstable nuclei:

1.

decay :
The emission of a nucleus
A4
Z2

X N2

A
Z

XN

particle

of a

4
2

H e 2 , and a

( daughter nucleus).

A
Z

X N Z2 y N2 + particle+Q

A4

A
Z

X N Z2 y N2 + 2H e 2 +Q

A
Z

A4

is the parent nucleus, and

A4
Z2

is the daughter nucleus, and Q is

the energy released by the reaction.

2.

decay :

The emission by a nucleus of an electron or positron.

There are 2 type of Beta decay:

decay

decay
+decay

(Electron-beta decay):

+ +Q
+ Q} AZ X Z+1A y +e
A
A

Z X N Z+1 y N 1+
+decay

A
Z

(Positron-beta decay):

++ +Q
X N Z1A y N +1 +e

General formula:
A
Z

X N Z 1A y N 1+ e + +Q

Note:* When there is

is positive,

the

correspond to the

will be negative. Vice versa.

. In other words, if

3.

decay :
The emission by a nucleus of an energetic (MeV) photon:
A
Z

X AZ X +

Where

is the photon of energy. MeV is mega-electron Volt where 1MeV=

1.60217657 X 1013 J
Note: * shows that nucleus is excited.(Excited state means the nucleus has
more energy than usual)

,
4.

decays are known as spontaneous decay.

fission :
The splitting of a heavy nucleus into 2 smaller ( more or less equal sized)
fragments plus neutrons and
A
Z

rays :

X N AZ X N + AZ X N + neutron+ ' s
1
1

Z 1 + Z2 Z , N 1 + N 2 < N , A 1 + A 2 < A

Uranium- 235 nuclear fission

236
141
92
n+ 235
92 U 92 U 56 B a+ 36 K r +3 n+ Q(energy)

This one is the most famous nuclear fission, since nuclear fission is not very
predictable, if it is on the test it must be this one.