1. Mass number is conserved in a nuclear change.
2. Electric charge is conserved in a nuclear change.

Name	Symbol	Standard Equation Format	Mass #	Charge #
Alpha		42He	4	+2
Beta-minus	-	0-1e	0	-1
Beta-plus	+	0+1e	0	+1
Neutron	n	10n	1	0

Fission: break up of a large nucleus into two smaller nuclei creating a higher binding energy.

Fusion: two or more smaller nuclei combining to form a larger nucleus with a higher binding energy.

Synthetic Elements: made by bombarding plutonium with neutrons or other large elements with smaller elements.

Example of nuclear reaction:
²⁵⁴₉₉Es + ⁴₂He ²⁵⁶₁₀₁Md + 2 ¹₀n

Types of nuclear reactions:
Alpha Decay
²³⁸₉₂U ⁴₂He + ²³⁴₉₀Th

Decay: Beta Emission (Beta-minus)
²²⁸₈₈Ra ⁰_-1e + ²²⁸₈₉Ac

Decay: Positron Emission
⁹³₄₄Ru ⁰₁e + ⁹³₄₃Tc

K-Capture (capture beta-minus)
⁸³₃₇Rb + ⁰_-1e ⁸³₃₆Kr + X-ray

+ X-ray

This page was made by Erik Epp.