Uranium-238 ( ) undergoes alpha decay accompanied by the emission of a gamma photon.
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · US High School · Chemistry · Atomic Structure & Nuclear · Atomic Structure & Nuclear
Problem
Uranium-238 (92238U) undergoes alpha decay accompanied by the emission of a gamma photon.
(i) Write the balanced nuclear equation for this decay, including the symbol for the gamma photon.
(ii) Determine the atomic number and mass number of the daughter nuclide produced.
(iii) Calculate the number of neutrons lost by the nucleus during this decay.
(iv) Compute the percentage decrease in the mass number of the nucleus as a result of this single decay.