Question

The transmutation of a radioactive uranium isotope, , into a radon isotope, , involves a series of three nuclear reactions. at the end of the first reaction, a thorium isotope, , is formed and at the end of the second reaction, a radium isotope, , is formed. in both the reactions, an alpha particle is emitted. write the balanced equations for the three successive nuclear reactions. please show all work.

Answer 1

The transmutation of uranium to radon involves three nuclear reactions, each emitting an alpha particle and forming new isotopes of thorium, radium, and radon respectively. The balanced nuclear equations reflect mass and charge conservation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the transmutation of a radioactive uranium isotope into a radon isotope through the emission of alpha particles. To write the balanced equations for the three nuclear reactions, we start with uranium decaying to thorium while releasing an alpha particle, followed by thorium decaying to radium with another alpha particle emission, and finally radium decaying to radon, once again with the release of an alpha particle.

The first reaction, starting with uranium-238, would be:

238U (uranium) → 234Th (thorium) + 4He (alpha particle)

The second reaction, starting with thorium-234, would be:

234Th (thorium) → 230Ra (radium) + 4He (alpha particle)

The third reaction, starting with radium-230, would be:

230Ra (radium) → 226Rn (radon) + 4He (alpha particle)

Each of these equations is balanced in terms of mass number and atomic number, reflecting the conservation of mass and charge in nuclear reactions.