According to this decay series chart, which is the proper order of nuclear particle emission that occurs during the transition from lead-214 to lLead-210?

Lead-214 changes to bismuth-214. Bismuth-214 changes to polonium-214. Polonium-214 changes to lead-210.
Answer

Alpha, beta, beta

Beta, beta, alpha

Beta, alpha, alpha

Alpha, alpha, beta

Question

According to this decay series chart, which is the proper order of nuclear particle emission that occurs during the transition from lead-214 to lLead-210?

Lead-214 changes to bismuth-214. Bismuth-214 changes to polonium-214. Polonium-214 changes to lead-210.
Answer
		
Alpha, beta, beta
		
Beta, beta, alpha
		
Beta, alpha, alpha
		
Alpha, alpha, beta

anonymous · Answer

attachment

anonymous · Answer

@esshotwired

anonymous · Answer

@texaschic101

anonymous · Answer

@uri @SolomonZelman

anonymous · Answer

can you help bibby?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Between Lead-214 and bismuth-214, there is a symbol of a greek letter beta.

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, what do you think the first step of decay is. @hourglassmage ?

anonymous · Answer

Hi sorry, I had to go out for a bit.
I think alpha

I THINK it's alpha, beta, beta, based on the options they gave me...but reading the series it looks like alpha, beta, alpha

I dunno...clearly I don't understand what they're looking for at all. ???

@JoannaBlackwelder

anonymous · Answer

What do you think? Do you at all understand what they want? Cause I'm lost...lol.

joannablackwelder · Answer

When an element undergoes alpha decay, it loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

anonymous · Answer

ok, yes

anonymous · Answer

I don't see how that helps me here though...

joannablackwelder · Answer

This makes the sum of protons and neutrons to go down by 4 and the number of protons to go down by 2.

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, if the first step were alpha decay, the product should be with 210 being the sum of protons and neutrons, and 80 being the number of protons.

joannablackwelder · Answer

But that isn't what happened.

joannablackwelder · Answer

Are you following me so far?

anonymous · Answer

yes

joannablackwelder · Answer

Cool. :)

anonymous · Answer

:)

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, we know it is not A or D.

joannablackwelder · Answer

With beta decay, the sum of protons and neutrons stays the same, but the number of protons goes up by 1.

joannablackwelder · Answer

Does that look like what happens for the first step?

anonymous · Answer

no

joannablackwelder · Answer

Why not?

anonymous · Answer

The proton went up, instead of..wait..
getting mixed up

anonymous · Answer

Yeah, it went up instead of down

joannablackwelder · Answer

Look carefully. The top number is the sum of protons and neutrons.

joannablackwelder · Answer

:) Good!

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, what happens on the second step?

anonymous · Answer

It gains one proton

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, what kind of decay is that?

anonymous · Answer

beta

anonymous · Answer

beta beta alpha?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Awesome! :)

joannablackwelder · Answer

Can you verify that the last step is alpha decay?

anonymous · Answer

hmmm...it didn't lose four neutrons.

joannablackwelder · Answer

By the way, here is some great info on the subject. http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear2.htm

joannablackwelder · Answer

It isn't supposed to. It loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

joannablackwelder · Answer

So, the SUM of protons and neutrons goes down by 4.

anonymous · Answer

oh, I see, gotch'ya

Whheeeeeeee!! I get it! 
Awesomesauce - medal and fan coming right up...

joannablackwelder · Answer

Yay! I'm glad you are getting it!! :D

anonymous · Answer

Thnx, I was going to ask a question about the same thing, but since I get it now, I don't have to. :happydance:

joannablackwelder · Answer

Sweet! That's what I like to hear!

joannablackwelder · Answer

Happy studies!

anonymous · Answer

To you as well! :D