determine the isotope produced in the beta decay of iodine-131 an isotope used to check thyroid gland function

212Rn86 ---> AXZ + 4He2

The way to solve these problems is simple. The left number is the mass number(jprotons + neutrons) and the right number is the atomic number (total protons). The left numbers must add up on both sides of the equation and the right numbers must do the same.

212Rn86 ---> AXZ + 4He2
You have 212 on the left for reactants. So A must be 212 -4 = 208
You have 86 on the right for reactants. So Z must be 86-2 = 84
So X must be the element with atomic number 84.Look on the periodic table and see that is Ac. AXZ would be written as 208Ac84.
I'll leave that first one for you. It's done the same way.

thank you.

To determine the isotope produced in the beta decay of iodine-131, we need to first understand the process of beta decay. Beta decay occurs when a nucleus undergoes a transformation where a proton is converted into a neutron, or vice versa. In the case of iodine-131, it undergoes beta decay by emitting a beta particle.

Iodine-131 (I-131) has 53 protons and 78 neutrons. During beta decay, one of the protons in the nucleus transforms into a neutron and emits a beta particle. The beta particle emitted is an electron (β-).

So, in the beta decay of iodine-131, the resulting isotope will have the same number of protons but one less neutron. This means the atomic number remains the same (53 for iodine) while the mass number decreases by one (130 for the isotope produced).

Therefore, the isotope produced in the beta decay of iodine-131 is tellurium-131 (Te-131), which has 53 protons and 78 neutrons.

Iodine-131 is commonly used in medical diagnostics to check thyroid gland function. The radioactive iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland, where its decay can be detected using imaging techniques to assess the thyroid's activity.