Chapter SH, Problem 20.4APP

To determine

To calculate: Number of alpha particles emitted.

Answer to Problem 20.4APP

The number of alpha particles released is 1.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

  $\text{R}\text{n}$ decays to $\text{P}\text{o}$

Calculation:

A reaction can be written as:

  $\text{R}\text{n}\to \text{P}\text{o}+\text{H}\text{e}$

Since an alpha particle is a particle composed of two protons and two neutrons and is same as a helium-4 nucleus, the number of alpha particles released in the above reaction is 1.

Conclusion:

The number of alpha particles released is 1.