World of Chemistry
World of Chemistry
7th Edition
ISBN: 9780618562763
Author: Steven S. Zumdahl
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin College Div
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 19, Problem 10STP
Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:The transformation 1 in the figure has to be given.

Concept introduction:The decay of a nucleus by emitting an alpha particle (α(or)H24e) is called as alpha emission. The general balanced equation is,

  XZAα24+Y(Z2)(A4)

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 10STP

The transformation 1 in the figure is alpha particle production. Option (A) is correct.

Explanation of Solution

The decay of a nucleus by emitting an alpha particle (α(or)H24e) is called alpha emission. The general balanced equation is,

  XZAα24+Y(Z2)(A4)

Where,

  • A is the mass number.
  • Z is the atomic number.
  • X is the original isotope.
  • Y is the new isotope.

Since the alpha particle consists of two protons, the newly formed nucleus has two fewer protons than the original nucleus. Because it has a different number of neutrons, the new nucleus represents a different element.

In the transformation 1 from the figure, it can be observed that there is a change in the atomic number and change in the mass number.

It is seen that there is adecrease in atomic number from 84 to 82.

In addition, the mass number is decreased from 214 to 210.

The nuclear transformation in which the atomic number decreases by two units and the mass number decreases by four units is analpha-particle emission. Therefore, transformation 1 in the figure is analpha-particle production.

Conclusion

The transformation 1 cannot be a beta particle production because there is a change in mass number and atomic number. In a beta particle production, there would be no change in the mass number and the atomic number would be increased by one unit. Hence, option (B) is incorrect.

The transformation 1 cannot be electron capture production because there is a change in mass number and atomic number. In the electron capture process, the atomic number is reduced by one unit and the mass number would remain unchanged. Hence, option (C) is incorrect.

Chapter 19 Solutions

World of Chemistry

Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:9781259911156
Author:Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Chemistry
ISBN:9781305577213
Author:Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:9780078021558
Author:Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry
ISBN:9781305079373
Author:William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind...
Chemistry
ISBN:9781118431221
Author:Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:WILEY