Two incomplete nuclear equations are shown. The letters X\mathrm{X}X, Y\mathrm{Y}Y, R\mathrm{R}R and L\mathrm{L}L are labels for nuclei. Z Z\,Z and q q\,q are missing charge numbers.
| equation | incomplete nuclear equation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1431X→Z31Y+−10e{}^{31}_{14}\mathrm{X} \rightarrow {}^{31}_{Z}\mathrm{Y} + {}^{0}_{-1}\mathrm{e}1431X→Z31Y+−10e |
| 2 | 1529R→1429L+q0e{}^{29}_{15}\mathrm{R} \rightarrow {}^{29}_{14}\mathrm{L} + {}^{0}_{q}\mathrm{e}1529R→1429L+q0e |
Calculate the value of Z Z\,Z in equation 1.
State the change that happens to one nucleon inside nucleus X\mathrm{X}X.
Calculate the value of q q\,q in equation 2.
Name the particle emitted in equation 2.
State how the number of protons and the number of neutrons change when nucleus R\mathrm{R}R becomes nucleus L\mathrm{L}L.
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.