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)
Responses
82
82
80
80
210
210
208
82
In a balanced nuclear reaction, an alpha particle is released by polonium to produce lead. An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, so it has an atomic number of 2.
The atomic number of polonium is 84, and when it releases an alpha particle, the atomic number decreases by 2.
So, to find the atomic number of lead, we subtract 2 from the atomic number of polonium:
84 - 2 = 82
Therefore, the atomic number of lead is 82.
The correct option is: 82.
To determine the atomic number of lead in this balanced nuclear reaction, we need to understand the significance of the alpha particle and the chemical equation involved.
An alpha particle, symbolized as α, is a particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons. It is emitted during certain types of radioactive decay. In this case, polonium (Po) is undergoing alpha decay, meaning it is releasing an alpha particle.
The balanced nuclear reaction for polonium undergoing alpha decay can be represented as follows:
^212Po -> ^208Pb + ^4He
In the equation, the atomic number (number of protons) and the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons) must be conserved on both sides. Here, polonium (^212Po) releases an alpha particle (^4He) to produce lead (^208Pb).
Comparing the atomic numbers on both sides of the equation, we find that polonium has an atomic number of 84, while an alpha particle has an atomic number of 2. In the product side, lead has an unknown atomic number (let's call it x), and an alpha particle has an atomic number of 2.
Therefore, we can write the equation for atomic numbers as:
84 (polonium) -> x (lead) + 2 (alpha particle)
Since the atomic numbers must be conserved, we can deduce that x (lead) + 2 (alpha particle) should equal 84. Solving for x, we get:
x + 2 = 84
x = 84 - 2
x = 82
Hence, the atomic number of lead in this balanced nuclear reaction is 82.