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The alpha (α) particle has the following main characteristic:

i)is positively charged(like protons)

1. ii) has mass number 4 and atomic number 2 therefore equal to a charged Helium atom ( ⁴₂He²⁺)

iii) have very low penetrating power and thus can be stopped /blocked/shielded by a thin sheet of paper.

1. iv) have high ionizing power thus cause a lot of damage to living cells.
2. v) a nuclide undergoing α-decay has its mass number reduced by 4 and its atomic number reduced by 2

Examples of alpha decay

²¹⁰ ₈₄ Pb                 ->      ^x ₈₂ Pb         +       ⁴₂He ²⁺   the value  of X is

²¹⁰ ₈₄ Pb                 ->      ²⁰⁶ ₈₂ Pb       +       ⁴₂He

ii)Beta (β) particle decay

 The Beta (β) particle has the following main characteristic:

i)is negatively charged(like electrons)

ii)has  no mass number  and atomic number  negative one(-1)  therefore equal to a fast moving electron (⁰ _-1e)

iii) have medium  penetrating power and thus can be stopped /blocked/shielded by a thin sheet of  aluminium foil.

1. iv) have medium ionizing power thus cause less  damage to living cells than the α particle.
2. v) a nuclide undergoing β -decay has its mass number remain the same and its atomic number increase by 1

 Example of beta (β) decay

1.²³ x Na               ->       ²³₁₂Mg                  +       ⁰ _-1e   value of X is

 ²³ 11 Na                ->       ²³₁₂Mg                 +       ⁰ _-1e

(iii)Gamma (y) particle decay

The gamma (y) particle has the following main characteristic:

i)is neither negatively charged(like electrons/beta) nor positively charged(like protons/alpha) therefore neutral.

ii)has  no mass number  and atomic number therefore equal to   electromagnetic waves.

iii) have very high  penetrating power and thus can be stopped /blocked/shielded by a thick block of lead..

1. iv) have very low ionizing power thus cause less damage to living cells  unless on prolonged exposure..
2. v) a nuclide undergoing y -decay has its mass number and its atomic number remain the same.

Example of gamma (y) decay

 ³⁷₁₇Cl ->            ³⁷₁₇Cl          +         y the value of x is

• ¹⁴₆C      ->            ¹⁴₆C            +         y