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An atom of radon gas emits an alpha particle as shown below. Radon-222 has 86 protons and 136 neutrons. What daughter product will form from this decay? Francium-222 (87 protons) Polonium-218 (84 protons) Radium-226 (88 protons) Lead-220 (82 protons)

Respuesta :

The answer is Polonium-218 (84 protons).

Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons. So, mass is 4 (2+2) amu 
[tex] _{2}^{4} \alpha [/tex].
When an atom of emits an alpha particle, its atomic number will be reduced by 2 and a mass number will be reduced by 4:
[tex] _{Z} ^{A} X[/tex] → [tex] _{Z-2} ^{Y-4} Y[/tex] + [tex] _{2}^{4} \alpha [/tex].

After emission of the alpha particle from Radon-222 with 86 protons, the daughter product will have the atomic number reduced by 2: 86-2 = 84 and the mass number reduced by 4: 222-4=218:
 
[tex] _{86} ^{222} Rn[/tex] → [tex] _{84} ^{218} Po[/tex] + [tex] _{2}^{4} \alpha [/tex].


Answer is Polonium-218 (84 protons).

alpha decay is an emission of ₂⁴He nucleus. If an element undergoes an alpha decay, the mass of the daughter nucleus formed is reduced by 4 compared to mass of parent atom and atomic number is reduced by 2 compared to atomic number of parent atom.

Since the parent atom has 86 protons, atomic number is 86. Hence, the daughter atom should have 86 - 2 = 84 as atomic number. The parent atom has 222 as its mass. Hence, formed daughter atom should have 222 - 4 = 218 as its mass number.

The reaction for this decay is;

₈₆²²²Rn → ₈₄²¹⁸Po + ₂⁴∝