¹⁵O → ¹¹C + ⁴He
Here's what each part of the reaction represents:
* ¹⁵O: This is the parent nucleus, oxygen-15. It has 8 protons and 7 neutrons.
* ¹¹C: This is the daughter nucleus, carbon-11. It has 6 protons and 5 neutrons.
* ⁴He: This is the alpha particle, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
Explanation:
In alpha decay, the unstable parent nucleus emits an alpha particle, effectively losing two protons and two neutrons. This results in a daughter nucleus with a lower atomic number and mass number.