Chapter 20.1, Problem 20.2E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Plutonium-239 nucleus decays by alpha emission with every nucleus emitting one alpha particle.  The other product of this decay has to be identified.

Concept introduction:

In a nuclear reaction, there are six particles can be concerned.  They are proton ${\text{(}}_{\text{1}}^{\text{1}}\text{H)}$, neutron ${\text{(}}_{\text{0}}^{\text{1}}\text{n)}$, positron ${\text{(}}_1^0\text{e)}$, beta (electron) ${\text{(}}_{-1}^0\text{e)}$, photon ${\text{(}}_{\text{0}}^{\text{0}}\text{γ)}$ and alpha ${\text{(}}_2^4\text{H)}$.  When writing the symbol of particles, the subscript equals the number of protons and superscript equals the sum of neutrons and protons.