Question

When a certain nuclide undergoes alpha emission, astatine-217 is produced. What is the identity of the nuclide that underwent decay?

a. actinium-219
b. francium-217
c. francium-221
d. astatine-221
e. actinium-221
Please explain the answer

Answer 1

C: francium-221

Step-by-step explanation:

First of all to get a broader perspective, every isotope of francium usually undergoes decay to form astatine, radium, or radon.

Now, Francium-223 and francium-221 are it's only isotopes that occur in nature.

However, francium-221 is the one that undergoes alpha decay to produce astatine-217.