A research facility studies a sample of sodium-22. During a nuclear change, a particle with mass number 0 and relative charge +1 is emitted from the nucleus.
The table shows information about the nucleus before and after this change.
| Nuclear state | Mass number | Atomic number |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium-22 before the change | 22 | 11 |
| Excited neon-22 after the change | 22 | 10 |
State the type of decay that has occurred.
Explain how the change to one nucleon inside the sodium-22 nucleus accounts for the change in atomic number shown in the table.
The excited daughter nucleus then emits gamma radiation.
Explain the effect of this emission on the mass number and element of the daughter nucleus.
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.