Question
what is chemical equation for alpha radiation
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Alpha radiation involves the emission of alpha particles from the nucleus of an atom. An alpha particle is essentially a helium nucleus, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. The general chemical equation for alpha decay can be represented as:
\[
_{Z}^{A}X \rightarrow _{Z-2}^{A-4}Y + _{2}^{4}\text{He}
\]
Where:
- \(_{Z}^{A}X\) is the parent nucleus (the original isotope)
- \(Y\) is the resulting daughter nucleus (the new isotope after decay)
- \(Z\) is the atomic number of the parent nucleus
- \(A\) is the mass number of the parent nucleus
- The helium nucleus is represented as \( _{2}^{4}\text{He} \), also known as an alpha particle.
For example, if we take the alpha decay of uranium-238:
\[
_{92}^{238}\text{U} \rightarrow _{90}^{234}\text{Th} + _{2}^{4}\text{He}
\]
This indicates uranium-238 decays to thorium-234 and emits an alpha particle (helium nucleus).
\[
_{Z}^{A}X \rightarrow _{Z-2}^{A-4}Y + _{2}^{4}\text{He}
\]
Where:
- \(_{Z}^{A}X\) is the parent nucleus (the original isotope)
- \(Y\) is the resulting daughter nucleus (the new isotope after decay)
- \(Z\) is the atomic number of the parent nucleus
- \(A\) is the mass number of the parent nucleus
- The helium nucleus is represented as \( _{2}^{4}\text{He} \), also known as an alpha particle.
For example, if we take the alpha decay of uranium-238:
\[
_{92}^{238}\text{U} \rightarrow _{90}^{234}\text{Th} + _{2}^{4}\text{He}
\]
This indicates uranium-238 decays to thorium-234 and emits an alpha particle (helium nucleus).