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

1 Answer
Apr 18, 2016

""_ 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