A nucleus of polonium-210 (atomic number 84) is observed to decay and produce a nucleus of lead-206 (atomic number 82). Measurements detect only one additional nuclear particle being emitted during the event.
Throughout the decay, assume that both total nucleon number and electric charge remain conserved.
(a) Identify the mode of radioactive decay that converts polonium-210 to lead-206.
(b) Write the balanced nuclear equation for this decay, using nuclide notation for the parent, daughter, and emitted particle(s).
(c) State the mass number and atomic number of the emitted particle and give its common name.
(d) Qualitatively describe how the difference in mass between the emitted particle and the daughter nucleus affects the sharing of kinetic energy between them.