Explain with the help of a nuclear reaction in each of the following cases, how the neutron to proton ratio change during (i) `alpha`- decay (ii) `beta`- decay.

Explanation

(i) `alpha`decay is represented as `._92U^(238) to ._90Th^(234)+._2He^4`
Initial ratio of
`("neutron number") /("proton number")=(238-92)/92=1.586`
Final ratio of
`("neutron number") /("proton number")=(234-90)/90=1.6`
Clearly, the ratio increases slightly in `alpha`-decay.
(ii) `beta`- decay may be represented as
`._15P^(32) to ._16S^(32)+._(-1)e^0+barv`
Initial ratio of
`("neutron number") /("proton number")=(32-15)/15=1.13`
Final ratio of
`("neutron number") /("proton number")=(32-16)/16=1.00`
Clearly, the ratio decraeses slightly in `beta`-decay.