Chapter 16, Problem 16.58AQAP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The type of radioactive decay needs to be identified.

Concept introduction:

• Alpha decay happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle ${\text{α}}_{\text{2}}^{\text{4}}$ .
• Beta decay happens when a nucleus emits a beta particle identical to the electron ${\text{e}}_{\text{-1}}^{\text{0}}$ .
• Positron emission happens when a nucleus emits a positron ${\text{e}}_{\text{1}}^{\text{0}}$ .
• Gamma decay is a loss of energy by the nucleus it is denotes as ${\text{γ}}_{\text{0}}^{\text{0}}$ .

Given:

  ${}_{\text{55}}^{\text{127}}\text{Cs }\to {}_{\text{54}}^{\text{127}}{\text{Xe + }}_{\text{+1}}^{\text{0}}\text{e}$

  ${}_{\text{38}}^{\text{90}}\text{Sr}\to {}_{\text{39}}^{\text{90}}{\text{Y + }}_{\text{-1}}^{\text{0}}\text{e}$

  ${}_{\text{85}}^{\text{218}}\text{At }\to {}_{\text{83}}^{\text{214}}{\text{Bi + }}_{\text{2}}^{\text{4}}\text{He}$