Review of why nuclei decay. Review and discuss the main particles of nuclear decay, the alpha,beta, and gamma rays. Nuclei will decay in order to achieve more stability, and come closer to a mass of 58 amu, found in the stable element iron. Alpha particles are helium nuclei, atomic mass of 4 and atomic number 2. Discuss that when a radioactive nucleus decays by alpha emission, the new element's atomic mass decreases by 4 and the new atom's atomic number decreases by 2. A series of 5 elements which undergo alpha decay were listed and the products of the nuclear decay needed to be found, and the equations written.