What role do neutrons play in the atomic nucleus?
Neutrons act as nuclear cement to hold the nucleus together. 9. What change in atomic number occurs when a nucleus emits an alpha particle? A beta particle? Emission of an alpha particle decreases the atomic number of the nucleus by 2. Emission of a beta particle increases the atomic number of the nucleus by 1. 10. What is the long-range fate of all the uranium that exists in the world today? All uranium will eventually decay to lead. 17. Why is there more carbon-14 in living bones than in once-living ancient bones of the same mass? Carbon-14 lost to decay is replenished with carbon-14 from the atmosphere. When a living thing dies, replenishment stops and the percentage of carbon-14 decreases at a constant rate. 19. Why is lead found in all deposits of uranium ores? All uranium isotopes eventually decay to lead. So, any deposit of uranium ore will contain some lead which has been converted from uranium. 20. What does the proportion of lead and uranium in rock tell us about the age of t
