Alpha decay and decay equations part 1:
An alpha particle is made up of ____ protons and ____ neutrons. Alpha radiation is highly i_______
and therefore very dangerous to humans. The two ways to write alpha particles are as a helium
nucleus (
) and as the greek symbol for alpha (
).
An alpha particle is written in nuclear physics as: ∎2𝐻𝑒. Rewrite this with the blank filled in.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the blanks and use the periodic table to find out what elements these substances transmutate
into. Remember: an the element is decided by the number of protons.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Which
questions
has a
mistake?
(e)
(f)
(g)
235
231
4
92𝑈 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 90[
238
234
92𝑈 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 90[
232
90𝑇ℎ → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 88[
234
91𝑃𝑎 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 89[
227
89𝐴𝑐 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 87[
252
99𝐸𝑠 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 98[
247
97𝐵𝑘 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + [
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
237
93𝑁𝑝 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
140
(i) 58𝐶𝑒 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
244
(j) 94𝑃𝑢 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
144
(k) 60𝑁𝑑 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
140
(l) 59𝑃𝑟 → 𝐻𝑒 +
144
(m) 63𝐸𝑢 → 𝐻𝑒 +
243
(n) 95𝐴𝑚 → 𝐻𝑒 +
(h)
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
If you can do (n) and (m), you can now write an alpha decay equation in full. For example,
question (n) could have been phrased “what does Americium 243 alpha decay into?”
Taking this as an example, write the alpha decay equation for (o) Uranium 239, (p) Promethium
145, (q) Seaborgium 269, (r) Dubnium 268, (s) Ununpentium 288. The atomic numbers for
these are 90, 61, 106, 105, and 115 respectively.
(t) Alpha decay most often occurs in very _____ nuclei. The stable ratio of protons:neutrons in a
an atom is about 1 : ____. By examining this ratio in each of the five isotopes above (from (o) to
(s)) state which of them if any are likely to be alpha emitters (ie. Have too many protons)
Working backwards: The following isotopes are the product of an alpha decay. What were they
originally before the alpha particle was emitted? (t) Np-143, (u) U-232, (u) Pu-230, (v) U-232, (w)
U-236, (x) Sg-269. The full periodic table will be on the board.
Bonus challenges:
(y) Is it possible for Uranium to alpha decay into gold? How
likely would you says this is and what isotope of gold would it
be?
(z) What nuclear isotope could evenly split itself into two alpha
particles if it were to spontaneously undergo fission?
Omega Task: Make three difficult alpha decay questions that would challenge your peers.
Alpha decay and decay equations part 1:
An alpha particle is made up of ____ protons and ____ neutrons. Alpha radiation is highly i_______
and therefore very dangerous to humans. The two ways to write alpha particles are as a helium
nucleus (
) and as the greek symbol for alpha (
).
An alpha particle is written in nuclear physics as: ∎2𝐻𝑒. Rewrite this with the blank filled in.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the blanks and use the periodic table to find out what elements these substances transmutate
into. Remember: an the element is decided by the number of protons.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Which
questions
has a
mistake?
(e)
(f)
(g)
235
231
4
92𝑈 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 90[
238
234
92𝑈 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 90[
232
90𝑇ℎ → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 88[
234
91𝑃𝑎 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 89[
227
89𝐴𝑐 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 87[
252
99𝐸𝑠 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + 98[
247
97𝐵𝑘 → 2𝐻 𝑒 + [
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
237
93𝑁𝑝 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
140
(i) 58𝐶𝑒 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
244
(j) 94𝑃𝑢 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
144
(k) 60𝑁𝑑 → 2𝐻 𝑒 +
140
(l) 59𝑃𝑟 → 𝐻𝑒 +
144
(m) 63𝐸𝑢 → 𝐻𝑒 +
243
(n) 95𝐴𝑚 → 𝐻𝑒 +
(h)
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
[
]
If you can do (n) and (m), you can now write an alpha decay equation in full. For example,
question (n) could have been phrased “what does Americium 243 alpha decay into?”
Taking this as an example, write the alpha decay equation for (o) Uranium 239, (p) Promethium
145, (q) Seaborgium 269, (r) Dubnium 268, (s) Ununpentium 288. The atomic numbers for
these are 90, 61, 106, 105, and 115 respectively.
(t) Alpha decay most often occurs in very _____ nuclei. The stable ratio of protons:neutrons in a
an atom is about 1 : ____. By examining this ratio in each of the five isotopes above (from (o) to
(s)) state which of them if any are likely to be alpha emitters (ie. Have too many protons)
Working backwards: The following isotopes are the product of an alpha decay. What were they
originally before the alpha particle was emitted? (t) Np-143, (u) U-232, (u) Pu-230, (v) U-232, (w)
U-236, (x) Sg-269. The full periodic table will be on the board.
Bonus challenges:
(y) Is it possible for Uranium to alpha decay into gold? How
likely would you says this is and what isotope of gold would it
be?
(z) What nuclear isotope could evenly split itself into two alpha
particles if it were to spontaneously undergo fission?
Omega Task: Make three difficult alpha decay questions that would challenge your peers.