Question

The Americium nucleus, 241 95 Am, decays to a Neptunium nucleus, 237 93 Np, by emitting an alpha particle of mass 4.00260 u and kinetic energy 5.5 MeV. Estimate the mass of the Neptunium nucleus, ignoring its recoil, given that the Americium mass is 241.05682 u

Answer 1

The mass of Neptunium is 237.054 u.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Mass of Americium = 241.05682 u

Mass of alpha particle = 4.00260 u

The equation is,

`_(95)^(241)Am\rightarrow _(93)^(237)NP+\alpha\ particle+5.5 MeV`

Let the mass of Neptunium is m.

Since the mass remain same.

We need to calculate the mass of Neptunium

Using formula of mass

Mass of Neptunium = Mass of Americium -Mass of alpha particle

Put the value into the formula

`m=241.05682 -4.00260`

`m=237.054\ u`

Hence, The mass of Neptunium is 237.054 u.