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Nuclear decay and equations: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Nuclear decay and equations (specification points 6.18–6.22), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(b)(ii): Fluorine-18 releases positrons. Describe what happens when positrons meet electrons. (2)

  2. Q9(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a beta plus particle is emitted. (2)

  3. Q9(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): Radioactive decay can produce gamma radiation and alpha radiation. Compare the processes of gamma decay and alpha decay. Your answer should include • a descript

  4. Q10(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 10(b)(ii): Fluorine-18 releases positrons. Describe what happens when positrons meet electrons. (2)

  5. Q8(d)(iv)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(d)(iv): Strontium-90 is the source of beta minus radiation in this investigation. Complete the nuclear equation for this emission of beta minus radiation. (2) 90 0 90 S

  6. Q6(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(b): The nucleus of a different atom emits a gamma ray. What happens to the number of particles in the nucleus? (1) A it decreases by one B it decreases by two C it

  7. Q7(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(a)(iii): Complete the equation in Figure 12 for americium-241 decaying into neptunium (Np). (3) α + 95Am → Np 241 Figure 12

  8. Q7(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(c): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a positron is emitted. (2)

  9. Q9(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): Gamma radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When the nucleus of an atom emits a gamma ray, the number of protons in the nucleus and the number of n

  10. Q9(d)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksNuclear decay and equations
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(d): Gamma radiation is produced by radioactive decay. Alpha radiation and beta radiation are also produced by radioactive decay. Compare the processes of alpha deca

  11. Q7(b)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b): Figure 9 represents a decay that can happen inside the nucleus of an atom. neutron proton Figure 9 Which decay is represented in Figure 9? (1) A alpha B beta mi

  12. Q3(d)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 3(d): Carbon‑14 decays into nitrogen‑14. The symbol for nitrogen‑14 is 14 7N Explain what happens in a carbon‑14 nucleus when it decays to a nitrogen‑14 nucleus. (2)

  13. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(ii): Lead-214 emits ß-particles. Describe what happens to the nucleus of a lead-214 atom when it emits a ß- particle. (2)

  14. Q3(c)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markNuclear decay and equations
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 3(c): One radioactive source used in hospitals is technetium (Tc). Technetium is produced from the radioactive decay of molybdenum (Mo). Complete the following nuclea
All 14 questions on Nuclear decay and equations, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Fluorine-18 releases positrons. Describe what happens when positrons meet electrons. (2)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b) (2 marks): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a beta plus particle is emitted. (2)
  3. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): Radioactive decay can produce gamma radiation and alpha radiation. Compare the processes of gamma decay and alpha decay. Your answer should include • a descript
  4. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b)(ii) (2 marks): Fluorine-18 releases positrons. Describe what happens when positrons meet electrons. (2)
  5. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(d)(iv) (2 marks): Strontium-90 is the source of beta minus radiation in this investigation. Complete the nuclear equation for this emission of beta minus radiation. (2) 90 0 90 S
  6. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b) (1 mark): The nucleus of a different atom emits a gamma ray. What happens to the number of particles in the nucleus? (1) A it decreases by one B it decreases by two C it
  7. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): Complete the equation in Figure 12 for americium-241 decaying into neptunium (Np). (3) α + 95Am → Np 241 Figure 12
  8. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c) (2 marks): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a positron is emitted. (2)
  9. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (1 mark): Gamma radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When the nucleus of an atom emits a gamma ray, the number of protons in the nucleus and the number of n
  10. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(d) (6 marks): Gamma radiation is produced by radioactive decay. Alpha radiation and beta radiation are also produced by radioactive decay. Compare the processes of alpha deca
  11. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b) (1 mark): Figure 9 represents a decay that can happen inside the nucleus of an atom. neutron proton Figure 9 Which decay is represented in Figure 9? (1) A alpha B beta mi
  12. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(d) (2 marks): Carbon‑14 decays into nitrogen‑14. The symbol for nitrogen‑14 is 14 7N Explain what happens in a carbon‑14 nucleus when it decays to a nitrogen‑14 nucleus. (2)
  13. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Lead-214 emits ß-particles. Describe what happens to the nucleus of a lead-214 atom when it emits a ß- particle. (2)
  14. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c) (1 mark): One radioactive source used in hospitals is technetium (Tc). Technetium is produced from the radioactive decay of molybdenum (Mo). Complete the following nuclea

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