225/88 RA → 0/-1 e + blank/89 Ac
The missing box would be the number ____ ? And this is a form of ____ decay?
The missing box would be the number 1. And this is a form of beta decay.
To determine the missing number and the type of decay, we need to examine the given information:
225/88 RA → 0/-1 e + blank/89 Ac
In the decay equation, the sum of the mass numbers on both sides of the arrow should be equal, as well as the sum of the atomic numbers.
Let's break down the given equation and analyze it step-by-step:
1. The element undergoing decay is Radium (RA) with mass number 225 and atomic number 88.
2. Radium (RA) is decaying into an electron (e-) with a mass number of 0 and an atomic number of -1.
3. The resulting element is Astatine (Ac), with an unknown mass number (blank) and an atomic number of 89.
Now, we can deduce the missing number and the type of decay:
Since the sum of the mass numbers on both sides of the arrow should be equal, we can subtract the known mass numbers from the starting material (RA) from the resulting material (Ac) to find the missing number:
Missing Mass Number = Mass number of Ac - Mass number of RA
= ??/89 - 225/88
To calculate the missing mass number, we need to use the equation:
Mass number = Atomic number + Number of neutrons
Since the atomic number for Ac is given as 89, we can rewrite the equation as:
Missing Mass Number = 89 + Number of neutrons in Ac - 225
Now, let's solve for the missing mass number:
??/89 = 89 + Number of neutrons in Ac - 225
By rearranging the equation:
??/89 = Number of neutrons in Ac - 136
From this equation, we can conclude that the missing mass number (??) is 136.
Therefore, the missing box would contain the number 136.
Finally, based on the given information, the type of decay presented is alpha decay. Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons (similar to a helium nucleus) from the atomic nucleus.
To determine the missing number, we can use the principle of conservation of charge, where the sum of the charges on each side of a nuclear equation should be the same.
In the reaction 225/88 RA → 0/-1 e + blank/89 Ac, we know that the charge on the reactant side is +88 (since RA has an atomic number of 88). On the product side, the charge from the alpha particle (0/-1 e) is 0. Therefore, the missing box must have a charge of +88 - 0 = +88.
Since Ac has an atomic number of 89, which represents the number of protons in the nucleus, the missing box (blank) must have an atomic number of 89. This indicates that the missing element is Ac (Ac represents the chemical symbol for the element actinium).
Therefore, the missing box would be the number 89.
Regarding the type of decay, this reaction is known as alpha decay. Alpha decay occurs when an alpha particle (a helium nucleus) is emitted from the nucleus of an atom. In this case, the 225/88 RA nucleus is undergoing alpha decay to form the 221/86 Rn (radon) nucleus, with the emission of an alpha particle (0/-1 e).