Given the following nuclear reaction:

Question

224/88 Ra - 4/2 He + A/Z X
Column A
1.
What is the atomic mass of the new atom?
2.
What is the atomic number of the new atom?
3.
What is the symbol of the new atom?
4.
What type of decay is demonstrated here?
Column B
a. Rn
b. 224
c. Gamma Decay
d. 90
e. 228
f. Alpha Decay
g. Ra
h. 86
i. 220
j. 88
k. 84
l. Th
m. Beta Decay

Answer 1

To solve the nuclear reaction given here:

\[ ^{224}{88} \text{Ra} \rightarrow ^{4}{2} \text{He} + \frac{A}{Z} \text{X} \]

We need to find out the values for A and Z of the new atom (X) produced in this decay.

1. What is the atomic mass (A) of the new atom (X)?

The atomic mass of the new atom can be calculated using the conservation of mass number (A). The original mass number (A) of Ra is 224, and the mass number of He is 4.

\[ A_{\text{Ra}} = 224 \] \[ A_{\text{He}} = 4 \] \[ A_{\text{X}} = A_{\text{Ra}} - A_{\text{He}} = 224 - 4 = 220 \]

So, the atomic mass of the new atom is 220.

2. What is the atomic number (Z) of the new atom (X)?

The atomic number can be calculated similarly using the conservation of atomic number (Z). The atomic number of Ra is 88, and the atomic number of He is 2.

\[ Z_{\text{Ra}} = 88 \] \[ Z_{\text{He}} = 2 \] \[ Z_{\text{X}} = Z_{\text{Ra}} - Z_{\text{He}} = 88 - 2 = 86 \]

So, the atomic number of the new atom is 86.

3. What is the symbol of the new atom (X)?

The new atom with atomic number 86 corresponds to Radon (Rn) on the periodic table.

So, the symbol of the new atom is Rn.

4. What type of decay is demonstrated here?

The type of decay in this reaction is Alpha decay, since it involves the emission of an alpha particle (He nucleus).

Thus, for the answers in the context of Column B:

1. Atomic mass of the new atom: i. 220
2. Atomic number of the new atom: h. 86
3. Symbol of the new atom: a. Rn
4. Type of decay: f. Alpha Decay

Final answers:

1. i. 220
2. h. 86
3. a. Rn
4. f. Alpha Decay