Question
19. A radioactive nucleus decays to yield a bismuth-211 nucleus and an alpha particle. What was the identity of the original nucleus? Show the nuclear equation that leads you to this answer.
Answers
DrBob222
It's hard to do subscripts and superscripts here so here is what I will do.
A is the atomic number, M is the mass number, X is the element. so
AX^M ==> 2He^4 + 83Bi^211
Now you want the subscripts to add up on both sides as well as the superscripts to add up on both sides.
A = 83 + 2 = 85 and you look on the periodic table to find the identity of X
M = 211 + 4 = ?
Now fill in the AX^N we started with.
85At^215 = 2He^4 + 83Bi^211
A is the atomic number, M is the mass number, X is the element. so
AX^M ==> 2He^4 + 83Bi^211
Now you want the subscripts to add up on both sides as well as the superscripts to add up on both sides.
A = 83 + 2 = 85 and you look on the periodic table to find the identity of X
M = 211 + 4 = ?
Now fill in the AX^N we started with.
85At^215 = 2He^4 + 83Bi^211