Final answer:
An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, while a beta particle can be an electron or a positron. The nuclear equations for the emission of alpha, beta, and positron particles involve the conversion of one element into another.
Step-by-step explanation:
An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, which is equivalent to a helium-4 nucleus. The nuclear equation for the emission of an alpha particle can be represented as:
parent nucleus → daughter nucleus + alpha particle
For example, if we consider the decay of uranium-238, the equation would be:
23892U → 23490Th + 42He
A beta particle can be an electron or a positron. The process of beta decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton or a proton into a neutron, accompanied by the emission of a beta particle. The nuclear equation for beta decay can be represented as:
parent nucleus → daughter nucleus + beta particle
For example, the beta decay of carbon-14 can be written as:
146C → 147N + 0-1e
A positron is the antiparticle of an electron. The nuclear equation for positron emission can be written as:
parent nucleus → daughter nucleus + positron particle
For example, the emission of a positron from carbon-11 can be represented as:
116C → 115B + 0+1e