the nuclide 232 Th 90 is radioactive. when one of the atoms decays, a series of alpha and beta particle emission occurs, taking the atom through many transformations to end up as an atom of 208 Pb 82. How many alpha particles are emitted in converting 232 Th 90 into 208 Pb 82?
i understand alpha and beta emission separately but i don't know how to calculate just the alpha when beta is involved too. any help is appreciated. thanks.
The change in mass number is 24, is that evenly divisible by the mass number (4) of an alpha particle?
6 alpha particles 2 positrons?
To determine the number of alpha particles emitted in the transformation from 232 Th 90 to 208 Pb 82, we need to understand the radioactive decay process and the series of transformations involved.
In the decay process, alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, from the nucleus of an atom. Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle, which can be either an electron (β-) or a positron (β+).
To calculate the number of alpha particles emitted in this particular transformation, we need to find the decay pathway from 232 Th 90 to 208 Pb 82 and count the number of alpha decays along that path.
The decay of 232 Th 90 proceeds through a chain of radioactive decays called the Uranium Decay Series, which includes several alpha and beta decays. However, for simplicity, let's focus on the main steps of the decay chain:
232 Th 90 → 228 Ra 88 (Alpha Decay #1)
228 Ra 88 → 228 Ac 89 (Beta Decay)
228 Ac 89 → 228 Th 90 (Beta Decay)
228 Th 90 → 224 Ra 88 (Alpha Decay #2)
224 Ra 88 → 220 Rn 86 (Alpha Decay #3)
220 Rn 86 → 216 Po 84 (Alpha Decay #4)
216 Po 84 → 212 Pb 82 (Alpha Decay #5)
212 Pb 82 → 208 Pb 82 (Alpha Decay #6)
From the decay chain above, we can see that there are a total of 6 alpha decays involved in the conversion of 232 Th 90 to 208 Pb 82.
Therefore, the number of alpha particles emitted is 6.
Remember that this calculation considers only the specific decay path mentioned. In reality, there may be additional decay paths and other decays (such as gamma rays) that can occur.