Question

If an element with atomic mass 201 undergoes alpha decay, what is the mass number in the resulting element?

Answer 1

INFORMATION:

We know that:

- an element with atomic mass 201 undergoes alpha decay

And we must find the mass number in the resulting element

STEP BY STEP EXPLANATION:

To fin the mass number in the resulting element, we must know that

In general, during alpha decay, the atomic number (Z) is reduced by two, and the mass number (A), by four.

Now, knowing that the mass number is reduced by 4 and the atomic mass for our element is 201. Then, the atomic mass for the new element would be

`201-4=197`

ANSWER:

The mass number in the resulting element is 197