Rubidium- 87 , which forms about 28 % of natural rubidium,...

Rubidium- 87 , which forms about $28 \%$ of natural rubidium, is radioactive, decaying by the emission of a single beta particle to strontium-87. Write the nuclear equation for this decay of rubidium-87.

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Key Concepts

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of chemical elements that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This difference in neutron number results in varying mass numbers and can influence the stability of the nucleus, leading to radioactive decay in some isotopes.

Radioactive Decay

Radioactive decay is the process by which unstable nuclei release energy in the form of radiation to form more stable nuclei. This spontaneous transformation involves the emission of particles or electromagnetic waves and follows the principle of conservation of mass and charge.

Beta Decay

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a neutron in the nucleus transforms into a proton while emitting a beta particle (an electron) and an antineutrino. This process increases the atomic number by one while the mass number remains unchanged, reflecting the conversion of a neutron into a proton.

Nuclear Equations

Nuclear equations are symbolic representations of nuclear reactions. They indicate the reactants and products while ensuring the conservation of both mass number (total number of nucleons) and atomic number (total number of protons). These equations provide a structured way to depict how elements transform during radioactive decay.

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