Physical science nuclear decay: alpha and beta particles lab 1. alpha particles a. what is the mass number of an alpha particle? b. what is the identity of an alpha particle? c. what kind of charge does an alpha particle have? 2. beta particles a. what is the mass number of the particle emitted from the nucleus during beta minus (b-) decay? b. what kind of charge does the particle emitted from the nucleus during beta minus (b-) decay have? c. what is another name for a beta minus (b-) particle? 3. nuclear decay a. what happens in the nucleus of an atom when an alpha particle is emitted? b. what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a beta particle is emitted? drawing conclusions 4. the helium used to fill birthday balloons doesnt come out of the air, but from out of the ground into the atmosphere, but majority of it is trapped in earth's crust. based on what you have learned in today's lab, give a resonable explaination for the presence of helium gas in earth's crust. 5. why should it take significantly more energy to move a beam of alpha particles than a beam of beta minus (b-) particles? 6. what daughter product is produced when thallium-206, an isotope of thallium, undergoes beta minus (b-) decay?