Question

How do you characterize alpha, beta and gamma radiation in terms of mass and charge?

Answer 1

Hint:The energy that travels from space to earth is known as radiation. The most abundant source of radiation is the sun. Alpha, beta and gamma radiations are the types of ionizing radiation. To solve this we must know the content of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

Complete solution:
We know that the radiation that can easily remove electrons from the valence orbital of an atom is known as the ionizing radiation. Thus, ionizing radiation converts a neutral atom to a positively charged ion. Alpha, beta and gamma radiations are the types of ionizing radiation.
Ionizing radiation is characterized by unstable atoms. The unstable atoms release energy in the form of ionizing radiation and regain stability. The emitted radiation contains excess energy or mass or both.
1) Alpha radiation: Alpha radiations are emitted during radioactive decay. They have two protons and two neutrons. One alpha particle is a helium nucleus. The mass of one alpha particle is $6.644 \times {10^{ - 24}}{\text{ g}}$. The charge on one alpha particle is $ + 2$.
2) Beta radiation: Beta radiations are electrons or positrons with high energy. The mass of one beta particle is $9.109 \times {10^{ - 28}}{\text{ g}}$. The charge on one beta particle is $ - 1$.
3) Gamma radiation: Gamma radiations are emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay. Gamma radiations do not consist of any particles and thus, gamma radiation does not have any mass or charge.

Note:Remember that alpha and beta radiations are particles and gamma radiation is light. As the gamma radiation does not contain any particle it does not have mass or charge. As it does not have any mass, gamma radiations can travel much farther than alpha or beta particles.