Polonium has a mass number of 212 and an atomic number of 84. In a balanced nuclear reaction, polonium releases an alpha particle to produce lead. Which option is the atomic number of lead?(1 point)

Question

Responses

80
80

210
210

82
82

208
208

Answer 1

In a balanced nuclear reaction involving the decay of polonium (Po-212) releasing an alpha particle (\(\alpha\)), we can determine the atomic number of the resulting element (lead in this case) by applying the rules of alpha decay.

An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Thus, when polonium emits an alpha particle, its atomic number decreases by 2.

Polonium has an atomic number of 84. After releasing an alpha particle:

\[ 84 - 2 = 82 \]

Therefore, the atomic number of the resulting element (lead) is 82.

So the correct response is:

82