Question

In 1940, it was discovered that uranium could be artificially changed to plutonium, a process called transmutation. What combination of decay processes would convert U-239 (92 protons) into Pu-239 (94 protons)?

A. Beta-decay followed by beta decay.
B. Positron emission followed by electron capture.
C. Electron capture followed by alpha decay.
D. Alpha decay followed by beta decay.

Answer 1

The combination of decay processes that would convert U-239 into PU- 239 is beta decay followed by another beta decay. There are two different types of beta decay (positive and negative beta decays) they both occur simultaneously in order to move the atoms towards stability.