Chapter 14, Problem 14.98PAE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The final isotope produces by the following decay series of radon should be determined.

a, ß, ß, a, a, ß, ß, a

If this lead to the same isotope as in part (a) should be identified.

Concept Introduction: Nuclear Stability is a concept that helps to identify the stability of an isotope and thus the type of nuclear reaction a nucleus undergo, can be determined. The two main factors that determine nuclear stability are the neutron/proton ratio and the total number of nucleons in the nucleus.

When a nucleus undergoes alpha -decay $\left({}_2^4\alpha \right)$, the atomic number is decreased by 2, and mass number is decreased by 4.

When a nucleus undergoes beta -decay $\left({}_{-1}^0\beta \right)$, the atomic number is increased by 1, and mass number left unaltered.