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6.3 Nuclear equations and decay

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Question 10

Researchers use a particle detector to follow a decay chain. The nucleus at the start has mass number 190 and atomic number 76.

The detector identifies the emissions in this order:

  • beta-minus
  • neutron
  • alpha

Four possible records are shown. Each pair gives the mass number and atomic number of the daughter nucleus immediately after an emission.

RecordAfter beta-minusAfter neutronAfter alpha
W190,75190, 75190,75189,75189, 75189,75185,73185, 73185,73
X190,77190, 77190,77189,76189, 76189,76185,74185, 74185,74
Y189,76189, 76189,76188,76188, 76188,76184,74184, 74184,74
Z190,77190, 77190,77189,77189, 77189,77185,75185, 75185,75

Which record gives the sequence that should be entered in the research database?

[1]
A

Record W

B

Record X

C

Record Y

D

Record Z

Markscheme

6.3 Nuclear equations and decay Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /6.3 Nuclear equations and decay

120 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 6.3 Nuclear equations and decay, covering 6.3.1 Beta-minus and beta-plus decay, 6.3.2 Effects of decay on the nucleus, and 6.3.3 Balancing nuclear equations. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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