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Polonium is a rare element with 33 radioisotopes. The most common one, 210Po, has 82 protons and 128 neutrons. When 210Po decays, it emits an alpha particle,  which is a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).210Po decay is tricky to detect because alpha particles do not carry very much energy compared to other forms of radiation. They can be stopped by, for example, a  sheet of paper or a few inches of air. This property is one reason why authorities failed to discover toxic amounts  of 210Po in the body of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko until after he died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006. What element does an atom of 210Po decay into after it emits an alpha particle?

Polonium is a rare element with 33 radioisotopes. The most common one, 210Po, has 82 protons and 128 neutrons. When 210Po decays, it emits an alpha particle,  which is a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).210Po decay is tricky to detect because alpha particles do not carry very much energy compared to other forms of radiation. They can be stopped by, for example, a  sheet of paper or a few inches of air. This property is one reason why authorities failed to discover toxic amounts  of 210Po in the body of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko until after he died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006. What element does an atom of 210Po decay into after it emits an alpha particle?

Chemistry
Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
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Polonium is a rare element with 33 radioisotopes. The
most common one, 210Po, has 82 protons and 128 neutrons. When 210Po decays, it emits an alpha particle,  which is a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).210Po decay is tricky to detect because alpha particles
do not carry very much energy compared to other forms of radiation. They can be stopped by, for example, a  sheet of paper or a few inches of air. This property is one reason why authorities failed to discover toxic amounts  of 210Po in the body of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko until after he died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006.
What element does an atom of 210Po decay into after it emits an alpha particle?

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