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Gadolinium-149 decays through alpha decay and forms samarium-145. Estimate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.

Gadolinium-149 decays through alpha decay and forms samarium-145. Estimate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.

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Gadolinium-149 decays through alpha decay and forms samarium-145. Estimate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.
Transcribed Image Text:Gadolinium-149 decays through alpha decay and forms samarium-145. Estimate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.
Expert Solution
Concept and Principle:
  • During alpha decay, the unstable nucleus will release an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons.

 

  • The following reaction takes place in alpha decay.

XNZA→X'N−2Z−2A−4+He224

Here X is the unstable nucleus.

 

  • The kinetic energy of the alpha particle released is given by,

Kα=(A−4A)Q

Here A is the atomic number of the parent nucleus and Q is the energy released in the reaction.

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