Worksheet for practicing nuclear decay problems, including identifying decay types, balancing equations, and writing nuclear reactions.

PART A:
1. a. 2/4 He, b. 0/-1 e, c. 0/+1 e, d. 1/0 n, e. 4/2 He
2. Nuclear decay with no mass and no charge: gamma decay
3. Decay emitting an electron: beta decay
4. Nuclear decay giving off a helium nucleus: alpha decay
5. Least penetrating nuclear decay: alpha decay
6. Most damaging nuclear decay to the human body: alpha decay
7. Nuclear decay that can be stopped by skin or paper: alpha decay
8. Nuclear decay that can be stopped by aluminum: beta decay
9. Nuclear decay that can be stopped by lead, thick concrete, and gamma-ray shielding: gamma decay

PART B:
a. 238/92 U → 234/90 Th + 4/2 He
b. 234/90 Th → 234/91 Pa + 0/-1 e
c. 234/91 Pa → 234/92 U + 0/-1 e
d. 230/90 Th → 226/88 Ra + 4/2 He
e. 226/88 Ra → 222/86 Rn + 4/2 He
f. 222/86 Rn → 218/84 Po + 4/2 He
g. 218/84 Po → 214/82 Pb + 4/2 He
h. 214/82 Pb → 214/83 Bi + 0/-1 e
i. 214/83 Bi → 214/84 Po + 0/-1 e
j. 214/84 Po → 210/82 Pb + 4/2 He
k. 210/82 Pb → 210/83 Bi + 0/-1 e
l. 210/83 Bi → 210/84 Po + 0/-1 e
m. 210/84 Po → 206/82 Pb + 4/2 He

PART C:
1. The alpha decay of uranium-238: 238/92 U → 234/90 Th + 4/2 He
2. The beta decay of platinum-200: 200/78 Pt → 200/79 Au + 0/-1 e
3. The alpha decay of radon-198: 198/86 Rn → 194/84 Po + 4/2 He
4. The beta decay of uranium-237: 237/92 U → 237/93 Np + 0/-1 e