In the radioactive formula

235 U → 235 Np + X, what does X represent
92 93

A. An Alpha Particle
B. A positron
C. An electron
D. A gamma ray

Please help ASAP!!! Thank you :D

3 answers

Good grief. Thinbk about it.

If the atomic weight doesn't change, it can't be emitting an alpha particle. They have four nucleons in each one.

Instead, one of the neutrons in the U235 turns into an (emitted) electron or positron and a proton, with nearly zero mass change.

Now you figure out which it is. The atomic charge of the remaining nucleus must increase by 1.
Positron.
Anonymous: if you are trying to help, you aren't succeeding