Chapter 4, Problem 15STP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The type of decay that occurs when Iodine-131 undergoes radioactive decay to form an isotope with 54 proton and 77 neutrons, should be explained.

Concept introduction:

Isotope is the same number of protons and electrons but has a different number of neutrons in an atom of the same element.

Radioactive decay takes place when an unstable nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. The overall process is a spontaneous process.

Answer to Problem 15STP

The type of decay occurring is beta decay.

Explanation of Solution

When the iodine undergoes a radioactive decay to form an isotope with 54 protons and 77 neutrons, the type of decay that occurs is beta decay since the atomic number is changing from 53 (iodine) to 54 (xenon), and the mass number is not changing at all, which is 131 for iodine and xenon both.

Conclusion

Beta decay takes place in formation of this type of isotope.