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The following statement represents part of a radioactive decay series - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 13 - 2022
Question 13
The following statement represents part of a radioactive decay series. $$\text{X} \xrightarrow{\alpha} \text{Y} \xrightarrow{\beta} \text{214Bi}$$ Nucleus X underg... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The following statement represents part of a radioactive decay series - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 13 - 2022
Step 1
Nucleus X undergoes alpha emission to produce nucleus Y.
Answer
When nucleus X undergoes alpha emission, it loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons, resulting in a new nucleus Y that is 4 units lighter in mass and has an atomic number reduced by 2. Therefore, if we denote the mass number of nucleus X by A and its atomic number by Z, we can formulate:
To find nucleus Y, we must determine its identity based on these reductions.
Step 2
Nucleus Y then undergoes beta emission.
Answer
In beta emission, a neutron converts into a proton, which results in an increase in atomic number by 1 while the mass number remains unchanged. Thus:
Combining the two steps, we want to identify the original nucleus X that would yield a nucleus Y producing an isotope that decays into .
Step 3