- Step 1: ZAX→Z−2A−4D1. Mass number decreases by 4 (A→A−4) and atomic number decreases by 2 (Z→Z−2). This corresponds to the emission of an \alpha particle (α, 24He) .
- Step 2: Z−2A−4D1→Z−1A−4D2. Mass number remains unchanged (A−4→A−4), but atomic number increases by 1 ((Z−2)→(Z−1)). This corresponds to the emission of a beta-minus particle (e−, −10e) .
- Step 3: Z−1A−4D2→Z−3A−8D3. Mass number decreases by 4 ((A−4)→(A−8)) and atomic number decreases by 2 ((Z−1)→(Z−3)). This corresponds to the emission of another \alpha particle (α, 24He).
- Step 4: Z−3A−8D3→Z−4A−8D4. Mass number remains unchanged, but atomic number decreases by 1 ((Z−3)→(Z−4)). This corresponds to the emission of a positron (e+, +10e or β+) .
- Step 5: Z−4A−8D4→Z−4A−8D5. Both mass number and atomic number remain unchanged. This indicates a transition from an excited state to a lower energy state via the emission of a \gamma ray (γ) .
Sequence: α,e−,α,e+,γ.