Nuclear Chemistry & Radioactive Decay Practice Problems
The Organic Chemistry Tutor・2 minutes read
Mercury 201 has 80 protons, 121 neutrons, and 80 electrons, making it an alpha particle with a mass of 4 and a charge of 2. Iodine 131 undergoing beta decay converts into Xenon (Xe) with an atomic number of 54, changing the neutron-proton ratio to increase stability.
Insights
- Beta decay is a crucial process that converts a neutron into a proton, exemplified by Iodine 131 transforming into Xenon, thus impacting the stability of isotopes like Carbon 14 by altering their neutron-proton ratio.
- Nuclear fission, as observed in Uranium 235, splits heavy elements into lighter ones, generating three neutrons, while nuclear fusion combines lighter elements like hydrogen to create heavier elements, a fundamental mechanism like the sun's energy production.
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Recent questions
What is the process of alpha decay?
Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which is the nucleus of a helium atom consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
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Summary
00:00
Decay processes in nuclear chemistry explained
- Mercury 201 has 80 protons, 121 neutrons, and 80 electrons.
- Nucleons in Mercury 201 total 201, with 80 protons and 121 neutrons.
- An alpha particle is the nucleus of a helium atom, with a mass of 4 and a charge of 2.
- Thorium 230 undergoing alpha decay forms Radium (Ra) due to atomic number changes.
- Iodine 131 undergoing beta decay produces Xenon (Xe) with an atomic number of 54.
- Beta decay converts a neutron into a proton, as seen in the transformation of Iodine 131 to Xenon.
- Radium 227 is the unknown element produced when Uranium 238 is struck by a neutron.
- Carbon 14, with a neutron-proton ratio of 1.33, is likely to undergo radioactive decay.
- Carbon 14 would use beta decay to increase nuclear stability by decreasing its neutron-proton ratio.
- Alpha decay, positron decay, gamma decay, and electron capture are not suitable for stabilizing Carbon 14's neutron-proton ratio.
20:31
Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Reactions Explained
- Carbon 14 has a neutron-proton ratio of 1.33, while nitrogen has a ratio of 1, making beta decay ideal for carbon 14 to increase stability by reducing the ratio to 1.
- Elements with an atomic number of 84 or more, like radon, uranium, thorium, and radium, undergo radioactive decay, except for lead 206, which remains stable.
- Nuclear fission involves breaking a heavy element like uranium 235 into lighter elements, producing three neutrons, while nuclear fusion combines lighter elements like hydrogen to form heavier elements, as seen in the sun's energy generation.
