Polonium has a mass number of 212 and an atomic number of 84. In a balanced nuclear reaction, polonium releases an alpha particle to produce lead. Which option is the atomic number of lead?(1 point)Responses808020820821021082
The atomic number of lead is 82.
In a balanced nuclear reaction, an alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, which means it has an atomic number of 2. Since polonium has an atomic number of 84, when it releases an alpha particle, the resulting element must have an atomic number of 84-2=82.
Therefore, the atomic number of lead is 82.
The correct option is 82.
To determine the atomic number of lead (Pb) in this nuclear reaction, we need to understand that the atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
In this case, the polonium nucleus, which has an atomic number of 84, releases an alpha particle. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons.
Since an alpha particle is emitted from the polonium nucleus, the resulting nucleus will have an atomic number that is decreased by two (due to the loss of two protons) and a mass number that is decreased by four (due to the loss of two protons and two neutrons).
Therefore, the atomic number of lead (Pb) can be found by subtracting two from the atomic number of polonium:
84 - 2 = 82
Hence, the atomic number of lead is 82.