7.07 describe the effects on the atomic and mass numbers of a nucleus of the emission of each of the four main types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation)

Alpha decay:

·         2 protons and 2 neutrons are lost.

·         Mass number decreases by 4

·         Atomic number decreases by 2

Beta decay

·         1 neutron is converted to an electron (lost from the atom) and proton

·         Mass number is unchanged

·         Atomic number increases by 1

Gamma decay

·         Energy is lost from an atom in the form of an electromagnetic wave

·         Mass number is unchanged

·         Atomic number is unchanged