Question: Which mineral was used in isolation of radium? A.limestone B.pitchblende. C.retile D.hem...

Question

Which mineral was used in isolation of radium?
A.limestone
B.pitchblende.
C.retile
D.hematite

Answer 1

Solution

Radium is a radioactive element. Radioactive decay is the loss of elementary particles from an unstable nucleus, ultimately changing the unstable element into another more stable element. There are various types of decay. Each type of decay emits a specific particle that changes the type of product produced. The number of protons and neutrons found in the daughter nuclei are determined by the type of decay or emission that the original element goes through.

Complete step by step answer:
Radium can be isolated from pitchblende. In 1902 Marie and Pierre Curie successfully isolated the radioactive radium from pitchblende. Pitchblende is a highly complex mineral containing more than 30 different elements. They used various processes to separate these elements. Pitchblende is also known as uraninite. Its color is black. It is a uranium-rich mineral. It is also radioactive. It contains variable proportions of ${U_3}{O_8}$ .

So, the correct option is B.

Additional information:
The sulfide ore of zinc is converted to its oxide ore. The sulfide ore of zinc, ZnS, or commonly known as Zinc-Blende ore is reacted with oxygen to give zinc oxide and releases sulfur dioxide gas. The chemical reaction for this process is given by:
$2ZnS + 3{O_2}\xrightarrow{{roasting}}2ZnO + 2S{O_2}$
More simply, the direct conversion can be represented as:
$ZnS \to ZnO$
Now to obtain zinc metal from this oxide ore, we need to perform a reduction reaction. The zinc oxide formed must be reacted with carbon and then heated. This results in the formation of pure Zinc metal and carbon monoxide gas.

Note: Radioactive decay is three types, alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay. In alpha decay, one particle with atomic number 2 and atomic mass 4 get removed from the nuclei. In beta decay, two kinds of the process are possible one is positive beta decay and another one is negative beta decay. In the case of gamma decay, no change of nuclei has happened.