Name: Date: Jan 31 2024
Student Exploration: Nuclear Decay
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: alpha particle, atomic number, beta particle, daughter product, gamma ray, isotope, mass
number, nuclear decay, positron, radioactive, subatomic particle
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
The chart below gives the locations, charges, and approximate masses of three subatomic particles. The
approximate mass of each particle is given in universal mass units (u).
Particle Location Charge Approximate mass
Proton Nucleus 1+ 1u
Neutron Nucleus 0 1u
Electron Orbitals 1– 0u
1. The mass number of an atom is equal to the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
A helium atom has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. What is the mass number of this atom?
2. The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in each atom of the element. All
helium atoms have 2 protons. What is the atomic number of helium?
Gizmo Warm-up
While most atoms are stable, some are radioactive, which means that
they have a tendency to undergo spontaneous nuclear decay. The
decay of radioactive atoms generally results in the emission of particles
and/or energy.
Several types of nuclear decay can be explored with the Nuclear Decay
Gizmo. On the Gizmo, check that Alpha decay and Uranium are
selected.
1. Click Play ( ), and then click Pause ( ) when the alpha particle is clearly visible. What is an alpha
particle made of (how many protons and neutrons it has)?
2 protons and 2 neutrons
2. Click Play and observe. Besides the alpha particle, looking at the key elements listed, what else is emitted
from the nucleus during alpha decay?
a gamma ray
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Gamma rays are energetic electromagnetic waves; they are often emitted in nuclear decay.
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● Click Reset ( ).
Alpha decay ● Check that Alpha decay and Uranium are
selected.
Question: How does alpha decay change the nucleus of a radioactive atom?
1. Predict: As you observed in the warm-up activity, an alpha particle consists of two protons and two
neutrons. Predict how the emission of an alpha particle affect the following (increase/ decrease / by how
much)?
A. The atomic number of the atom: decrease by 2
B. The mass number of the atom: decrease by 4
2. Calculate: Turn on Write equation. What you see is an equation that shows the original uranium atom on
the left. The boxes on the right represent the daughter product—the atom produced by radioactive
decay—and the emitted alpha particle.
A. In the top left box, write the mass number of the daughter product and press “Enter” on your
keyboard. What is this number? 234
B. In the bottom left box, write the atomic number of the daughter product and press “Enter.” What is
this number? 90
C. ✏️ Click on the picture below , select ✏️ edit. Enter the mass number and atomic number of the
alpha particle, which has the same composition as the nucleus of a helium (He) atom. After filling in
the boxes in the Gizmo, write the completed equation below:
D. According to your equation, what isotope remains after the alpha decay of
uranium-238? (Note: You can look up element symbols on the periodic table.)
Th-234
3. Check: Turn on Show equation, and click Play. The equation will appear at the end of the animation. Was
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your prediction correct? Yes If not, modify your equation above.
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4. Practice: Click Reset, turn off Show equation, and select Polonium.
decay of polonium, and then use the Gizmo to check your answer.
✏️Write an equation for the alpha
What isotope remains after the alpha decay of polonium-212? Pb-208
5. Practice: Click Reset, turn off Show equation, and select Radium.
decay of radium, and then use the Gizmo to check your answer.
✏️Write an equation for the alpha
What dangerous gas is produced by the decay of radium-226? Rn-222
6. Practice: Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope used in smoke detectors.
alpha decay of Americium-241 below.
✏️Write an equation for the
7. Analyze: In each equation, how is the mass number on the left side of the arrow related to the sum of mass
numbers on the right side of the arrow? Is this true for atomic numbers?
The sum of masses and atomic masses in the daughter product are both balanced to the
orginal mass number and atomic mass.
8. Summarize: In general, how can you determine the mass number of the daughter product after alpha
decay has taken place? How can you determine the atomic number?
mass number:
subtract 4 of the mass number on the left
atomic mass:
subtract 2 from the atomic mass on the left
9. Think and discuss: Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, but it is rare in Earth’s
atmosphere. Most of the helium used to fill balloons and blimps must be extracted from Earth’s crust. How
do you think this helium formed?
The alpha particles released by radioactive isotopes are what form helium.
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Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity B:
● Click Reset, and turn off Show equation.
Beta decay ● Select Beta decay from the Type of decay menu.
● Check that Carbon is selected.
Question: How does beta decay change the nucleus of a radioactive atom?
1. Observe: Click Play and watch the animation.
A. What happens to the decaying neutron during beta decay?
it becomes a proton
B. What is emitted from the nucleus during beta decay?
electron and gamma ray
C. What is the mass number and charge of the emitted particle?
Mass number: 0 Charge: -1
2. Predict: During beta decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton and an electron (the beta particle),
which is emitted. Gamma rays are often emitted during beta decay as well.
How will beta decay affect the atomic number and mass number of the atom?
atomic number: increase by one
mass number: stay the same
3. Calculate: Turn on Write equation. ✏️
Fill in the first set of boxes with the mass number and atomic
number of the daughter product and the next set of boxes with the mass number and atomic number of the
beta particle. (Note: The atomic number of an electron is -1.)
Check your answer by turning on Show equation and clicking Play. Modify your equation if necessary.
What isotope is produced by the beta decay of carbon-14? _____N-14____________
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4. Practice: Turn off Show equation. ✏️
Fill in the equations for the beta decay of iodine-131 and sodium-24
in the spaces below. Use the Gizmo to check your answers.
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