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Viswanathan
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Homework Statement
Are the number of electrons on both sides of the radioactive decay balanced?
Homework Equations
For example, consider an alpha decay.
ZPA → Z-2DA-4 + 2He4
For P,
Number of Neutrons = A - Z
Number of Protons = Z
Number of Electrons = Z
For D,
Number of Neutrons = [A - 4] - [Z - 2] = A - 4 - Z + 2 = A - Z - 2
Number of Protons = Z - 2
Number of Electrons = Z - 2
For He (nucleus),
Number of Neutrons = 2
Number of Protons = 2
Number of Electrons = 0
The Attempt at a Solution
Now, the number of neutrons
on left side = A - Z
on right side = [A - Z - 2] + 2 = A - Z
the number of protons
on left side = Z
on right side = [Z - 2] + 2= Z
the number of electrons
on left side = Z
on right side = [Z - 2] + 0 = Z - 2
It can be clearly seen that the number of electrons on both sides of an alpha decay are not balanced.
So what happened to those missing electrons?