Question

During nuclear decay, a new isotope is created. How is the nucleus of the new isotope different from the parent if the parent isotope has undergone alpha decay?

Answer 1

Answer:

the difference in parent nuclei and daughter nuclei is that daughter nuclei is having smaller mass number and by 4 and smaller atomic number by 2

$_z^AX ----> _{z-2}^{A-4}Y + _2^4He$

Explanation:

Alpha nucleus is the helium nuclei which is having 2 protons and 2 neutrons

So we will have

$\alpha = _2^4He$

now we know that in all radioactive decay mass number and atomic number will remain constant on product and reactant side

So we have

$X ------> Y + \alpha$

now by mass number conservation and atomic number conservation we have

$_z^AX ----> _{z-2}^{A-4}Y + _2^4He$

so the difference in parent nuclei and daughter nuclei is that daughter nuclei is having smaller mass number and by 4 and smaller atomic number by 2

Answer 2

Answer:

Alpha decay will produce a daughter nucleus with more protons and beta decay will produce a daughter nucleus with fewer protons than the parent nucleus has.