Question detail

What is the atomic number change in a nuclear equation for alpha decay? Use the medical tracer context to keep Nuclear equations distinct from nearby atomic and nuclear radiation ideas.

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Atoms and nuclear radiation

Question

A. It increases by 2 (nuclear equations 2)
B. It decreases by 2 (nuclear equations 2)
C. It remains unchanged (nuclear equations 2)
D. It decreases by 4 (nuclear equations 2)

Answer

The correct answer is It decreases by 2 (nuclear equations 2).

Explanation

The correct answer is It decreases by 2 (nuclear equations 2). It directly supports the learning objective: Represent alpha decay using a nuclear equation.. In Nuclear equations, this is the best option because it matches the specific medical tracer context; the other options mix up nearby ideas such as activity, count rate, isotope notation, radiation type, or nuclear-equation changes.

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Alpha Decay Representation

Students often confuse the representation of alpha decay by not correctly identifying the emitted particles and their effects on mass and atomic numbers in the nuclear equation.

To fix this, students should practice writing nuclear equations for alpha decay, ensuring they decrease the mass number by 4 and the atomic number by 2, while correctly representing the emitted helium nucleus.

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