What is the product produced when #""_92^238"U"# undergoes alpha decay?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-17T00:23:47

Thorium-#234# and an alpha particle of course!

The equation for alpha decay is:

#""_(Z)^(A)X -> ""_(Z-2)^(A-4)X# + #""_2^4 alpha#,

where:

#"Z"# is the atomic number, #"A"# is the mass number, #"X"# is the symbol of the element, and #alpha# is a helium-4 nucleus.

So here, the new mass number of the atom will be #238-4=234#, and the new element will have atomic number of #92-2=90#, which is thorium.

So, the equation for the alpha decay of uranium is:

#""_92^238U->""_90^234Th+""_2^4alpha#