A nucleus of selenium-79 undergoes a two-step decay sequence. First it experiences a single β− decay to form nucleus X. The resulting nucleus X then undergoes an α decay to form the final nucleus Y.
3479Se⟶XαY
(a) Write the balanced nuclear equation for the β− decay of 3479Se, including all emitted particles.
(b) Write the balanced nuclear equation for the subsequent α decay of nucleus X to produce nucleus Y, including all emitted particles.
(c) Combine your results from parts (a) and (b) into a single overall nuclear equation that shows the net transformation from 3479Se to Y, listing every particle emitted in the sequence.
(d) Demonstrate explicitly that your overall equation conserves both nucleon number and electric charge.
(e) State the atomic number and mass number of the final nucleus Y, and describe the net change in atomic number and mass number that occurred between the original selenium nucleus and Y.