Question
Question: Two alpha particles are emitted from an element whose mass number is \( 226 \) and the atomic number...
Two alpha particles are emitted from an element whose mass number is 226 and the atomic number of the element obtained after emission?
Solution
Alpha decay is defined as the loss of an alpha particle which is a helium atom from an unstable nucleus. Given that the element with mass number 226 undergoes decay to form two alpha particles. Thus, the element formed after decay has the mass number 218 with atomic number 84 and the chemical element is polonium.
Complete Step By Step Answer:
Some chemical elements which can exist as isotopes are unstable and undergo radioactive decay or decomposition to form a stable nucleus and the process is known as decay. There are different types of decay like alpha decay and beta decay.
Alpha decay is defined as the decay in which the alpha particles come out from the unstable nucleus.
Given that two alpha particles are emitted from an element whose mass number is 226
The element with mass number 226 is radium with atomic number 88 It undergoes alpha decay as follows:
88226Ra→24He+86222Rn
Now the element radon is formed with mass number 222 with atomic number 86 and undergoes alpha decay as follows:
86222Rn→24He+84218Po
Thus, after emission of two alpha particles from an element whose mass number is 226 is the polonium element.
Note:
Alpha particle means helium element with atomic number 2 and mass number 4 . Given that two alpha particles were emitted. Thus, the element obtained is polonium. But polonium is not a stable nucleus with mass number 222 the decay continues to form a stable nucleus like lead after a further number of decays.