How do you write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of radioactive isotopes?
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of each of the following radioactive isotopes:
A. curium-243
B. Th -Atomic Mass Number: 232, -Atomic Number: 90
C. No -Atomic Mass Number: 251, -Atomic Number: 102
D. radon-220
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of each of the following radioactive isotopes:
A. curium-243
B. Th -Atomic Mass Number: 232, -Atomic Number: 90
C. No -Atomic Mass Number: 251, -Atomic Number: 102
D. radon-220
1 Answer
Oct 26, 2017
An alpha particle is 2 protons and 2 neutrons for a total of 4 nucleons. We can write it as
See below the balanced equations for these 4 alpha decays.
Explanation:
A. curium-243
B. Th -Atomic Mass Number: 232, -Atomic Number: 90
C. No -Atomic Mass Number: 251, -Atomic Number: 102
D. radon-220