A radionuclide undergoes alpha emission, and thorium-234 is produced. What was the original radionuclide?
To determine the original radionuclide that undergoes alpha emission and produces thorium-234, we can use the concept of radioactive decay. Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay where an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, consisting of two protons and two neutrons. This process leads to the formation of a different element.
In this case, thorium-234 (Th-234) is produced, which means the original radionuclide underwent alpha decay. We can identify the original radionuclide by subtracting the mass of the emitted alpha particle from the mass of thorium-234.
The atomic mass of an alpha particle is equivalent to the mass of a helium-4 nucleus, which is approximately 4 atomic mass units (amu). Thorium-234 has an atomic mass of 234 amu.
By subtracting the mass of the alpha particle (4 amu) from the mass of thorium-234 (234 amu), we get:
234 amu - 4 amu = 230 amu
Therefore, the original radionuclide that underwent alpha emission and produced thorium-234 was an isotope with a mass of approximately 230 atomic mass units.