Question

Compare and contrast alpha and beta decay.

What type of decay should 32Si undergo, and why?

Answer 1

Compare and contrast alpha and beta decay.

Alpha decay is caused by the presence of too many protons in an unstable nucleus, while beta decay is a result of the presence of too many neutrons in unstable nuclei.

Alpha decay transforms the unstable nucleus into another nucleus with an atomic mass 2 which less than the parent nucleus and atomic number that is 4 less. In the case of beta decay, the new nucleus has an atomic mass 1 which more than the parent nucleus but has same atomic number.

The alpha particles in alpha decay are heavy and can be stopped with a sheet of paper or aluminum while beta particles in beta decay can penetrate into several millimeters of aluminum.

What type of decay should ³²Si undergo and why?

Beta decay

Explanation : The emission of a negative electron, a positive electron (positron) or the capture of an atomic orbital electron is called as beta decay process.

³²Si₁₄⁰_-1 + ³²P₁₅