If a nucleus decays by successive b, a, a emissions, its mass number will Group of answer choices decrease by seven. decrease by two. decrease by four. decrease by eight. increase by four.

The mass number will decrease by eight (8).

Explanation:

Given;

successive beta (b), alpha (a), alpha (a) emissions.

Generally, when a radioactive element emits a beta-particle (b), its mass number doesn't increase but its atomic number increases by 1 .

Also when a radioactive element emits an alpha-particle (a), its mass number decreases by 4, while its atomic number decrease by 2.

For the given question, a successive beta (b), alpha (a),  and alpha (a) emissions = (0) + (-4) + (-4) = -8

Thus, when a radioactive element emit a successive beta (b), alpha (a), alpha (a) particles, the mass number will decrease by eight (8).

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