Chapter 30, Problem 8Q

To determine

Experimental evidence for radioactivity being is nuclear process.

Answer to Problem 8Q

Solution:

Radioactive decay happens within the nucleus of the atom, and the decay changes the nucleus. When this happens, new chemical elements are formed from the original atoms

Explanation of Solution

Radioactivity was found to be unaffected in every case by the strongest physical and chemical treatments like including strong heating or cooling and the action of strong chemical reagents. Electron interactions are outcomes of chemical reactions, not nuclear processes. The absence of effects caused by chemical reactions is evidence that the radioactivity is not due to electron interactions.

The alpha particle is much heavier than an electron and it has a different charge compared to the electron, so alpha particle can’t be an electron. Therefore, it must be from the nucleus. Now consider energies; the energies of the electrons or photons emitted from radioactivity are much higher than those corresponding to electron orbital transitions. All of these observations support radioactivity being a nuclear process.