Name: Nuclear Reactions: Introduction
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 40 s
Description: The chemical reactions involve the transfer or sharing of electrons, and no change occurs inside the nucleus. Do you know about nuclear reactions? Let's see.

Question

In the naturally occurring thorium decay series, the nuclide

{}_{90}^{232}{Th}

decays in succession by

α, β, β, α, α, α, β

decay. Write an equation showing the mass numbers, the atomic numbers and the symbols for the nuclides formed by these decays.

Accepted Answer

We know that in alpha $(α)$ decay, the mass number of the daughter nuclei decreases by four while its atomic number decreases by two and the $α ‐ particle$ is represented as ${}_{2}^{4}{He}$ . Also, in the beta $(β)$ decay, the mass number of the daughter nuclei remains the same while its atomic number increases by one and the beta particle is represented as ${}_{- 1}^{0}e$ .

So, as per the above points, the following series of decays are shown below $:$

${}_{90}^{232}{Th} \overset{α - decay}{\to} {}_{88}^{228}{Ra} + {}_{2}^{4}{He} {}_{88}^{228}{Ra} \overset{β - decay}{\to} {}_{89}^{228}{Ac} + {}_{- 1}^{0}e {}_{89}^{228}{Ac} \overset{β - decay}{\to} {}_{90}^{228}{Th} + {}_{- 1}^{0}e {}_{90}^{228}{Th} \overset{α - decay}{\to} {}_{88}^{224}{Ra} + {}_{2}^{4}{He} {}_{88}^{224}{Ra} \overset{α - decay}{\to} {}_{86}^{220}{Rn} + {}_{2}^{4}{He} {}_{86}^{220}{Rn} \overset{α - decay}{\to} {}_{84}^{216}{Po} + {}_{2}^{4}{He} {}_{84}^{216}{Po} \overset{β - decay}{\to} {}_{85}^{216}{At} + {}_{- 1}^{0}e$

J. D. Lee Solutions for Chapter: The Atomic Nucleus, Exercise 1: Exercise 1

J. D. Lee Chemistry Solutions for Exercise - J. D. Lee Solutions for Chapter: The Atomic Nucleus, Exercise 1: Exercise 1

Questions from J. D. Lee Solutions for Chapter: The Atomic Nucleus, Exercise 1: Exercise 1 with Hints & Solutions

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