Question

How do you write the nuclear equation for the beta decay of francium-223.?

Answer 1

`""_ 87^223Fr -> ""_ 88^223Ra + ""_ -1^0e + ""_ 0^0nu`

Explanation:

`beta`-decay is the decay of a neutron into a proton, which keeps the total mass the same, but increases the number of protons by `1`. `beta`-decay does this by releasing an electron, which conserves charge, and a neutrino.

Francium-223 has an atomic number of 87, so is written as

`""_ 87^223Fr`

If the atomic number then increases by `1` to become `88`, then it is a new element. Looking at the periodic table, element `88` is radium, `Ra`.

In the form of an equation, this is shown as

`""_ 87^223Fr -> ""_ 88^223Ra + ""_ -1^0e + ""_ 0^0nu`

You can check this is correct by adding up the top numbers on each side and equating them, and doing the same with the bottom numbers.

`223 = 223 + 0 + 0`
`87 + 88 + (-1) + 0`