Question
In the series of radioactive disintegration of first one α-particle and then one β-particle is emitted. What is the atomic number and mass number of the new nucleus formed by these successive disintegrations?
Solution
When an alpha particle is emitted, mass number decreases by 2 and atomic number decreases by 2 and when a beta particle is emitted, mass number remains the same and atomic number increases by 1.
So, mass number becomes (A-4) and atomic number becomes (Z-1).