1. Write balanced nuclear equations for the following: the a decay of lead-208 B. the beta ^- decay of nitrogen -15 C. the beta ^+ decay of selenium -73

**A. Alpha decay of Lead-208:**<br /><br />Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle (which is essentially a helium-4 nucleus, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons). This means the atomic number of the daughter nucleus will be 2 less, and the mass number will be 4 less than the parent nucleus.<br /><br />* **²⁰⁸₈₂Pb → ²⁰⁴₈₀Hg + ⁴₂He**<br /><br />Lead-208 decays into Mercury-204 and an alpha particle.<br /><br /><br />**B. Beta-minus decay of Nitrogen-15:**<br /><br />Beta-minus decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton, an electron (the beta particle), and an electron antineutrino. The atomic number increases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.<br /><br />* **¹⁵₇N → ¹⁵₈O + ⁻¹₀e + ν̅ₑ**<br /><br />Nitrogen-15 decays into Oxygen-15, a beta particle (electron), and an electron antineutrino.<br /><br /><br />**C. Beta-plus decay of Selenium-73:**<br /><br />Beta-plus decay involves the conversion of a proton into a neutron, a positron (the beta-plus particle), and an electron neutrino. The atomic number decreases by 1, while the mass number remains the same.<br /><br />* **⁷³₃₄Se → ⁷³₃₃As + ⁺¹₀e + νₑ**<br /><br />Selenium-73 decays into Arsenic-73, a positron, and an electron neutrino.<br />