Question

In the following equation for the alpha decay of radium, which particle has been emitted?

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww292/akatushi101/image_q20.gif



helium-4

helium-2

a beta particle

a hydrogen nucleus and a beta particle

Answer 1

what pieces make up an alpha particle? This is a definition you probably have to know

Answer 2

helium

Answer 3

Not just helium, what kind of helium atom? how many protons and how many neutrons? that answers your question.

Answer 4

helium-4

Answer 5

correct.

Answer 6

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww292/akatushi101/image_q21.gif
Which type of radioactive decay occurs in the following reaction?
this would be a beta decay?

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

and this would be a fission?
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww292/akatushi101/image_q22.gif

Answer 9

no, that's a beta decay. Fission requires the products to be 2 smaller nuclei, not a nucleus and a subatomic particle. Fission is something like
\[^1_0n \space+ \space ^{238}_{92}U \rightarrow \space ^{142}_{56}Ba \space + \space ^{97}_{40}Zr \space + \space 3^1_0n\] so 1 large nucleus slipts into 2 smaller ones, plus more neutrons to start other fissions. If there are enough neutrons produced, a chain reaction will start and you get a nuclear explosion

Answer 10

Thank you :)