Question

If Ac-208 loses a neutron, what is left?

Answer 1

Ac 207

Explanation:

loses a neutron affects only the nuclear mass not the protons so the atom remains the same element. ( possibility more radioactive)

Answer 2

Another isotope of actinium...

Explanation:

We start with `""^208Ac`...and it undergoes some nucular process...

`""_89^208Acstackrel"nuclear process"rarr""^207Ac+""_1^0n`

I am no nuclear chemist...and my understanding may be naive. However, AFAIK, there are no stable actinium isotopes, and the species can undergo transmutation to francium, thorium, and radium. In the given process, there was no change in `Z` per se, and we are still left with an actinium isotope...