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What is the equation for when an iron -53 goes through alpha decay and beta decay

User BOOnZ
by
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1 Answer

20 votes
20 votes

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

β decay is a process in which a nucleus emits an electron.

The nuclear symbol for a β particle is

l

0

-1

e

.

In any nuclear equation, the sum of the subscripts (atomic numbers,

Z

) and the sum of the superscripts (atomic masses,

M

) must be equal on each side of the equation.

For the β decay of iodine 131, we have

131

53

I

l

M

Z

X

+

l

0

-1

e

Hence

131

=

M

+

0

, so

M

=

131

53

=

Z - 1

, so

Z

=

53

+

1

=

54

The element

X

with

Z = 54

is

Xe

.

So the equation is

131

53

I

131

54

Xe

+

l

0

-1

e

Note that in β decay, the product has the same mass number but an atomic number that has increased by 1.

User Tarun Nagpal
by
2.8k points