Writing Nuclear Equations for Beta (β) Decay
Write a nuclear equation for the beta decay of Bk-249.
Begin with the symbol for Bk-249 on the left side of the equation and the symbol for a beta particle on the right side.
Equalize the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the atomic numbers on both sides of the equation by writing the appropriate mass number and atomic number for the unknown daughter nuclide.
Deduce the identity of the unknown daughter nuclide from the atomic number. Since the atomic number is 98, the daughter nuclide is californium (Cf).
{}_{~~97}^{249}\mathrm{Bk}\longrightarrow{}_{y}^{x}?+ {}_{-1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}{}_{~~97}^{249}\mathrm{Bk}\longrightarrow{}_{~~98}^{249}?+ {}_{-1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}
{}_{~~97}^{249}\mathrm{Bk}\longrightarrow{}_{~~98}^{249}\mathrm{Cf}+ {}_{-1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}