Question

30 points 2 questions HELP!!

1 In radioactive decay, with each successive half-life, half the remaining sample decays to form another

2 During beta decay, a nucleus

a
gains a proton and loses a neutron.
b
maintains the same number of protons and neutrons.
c
gives up two protons and two neutrons.
d
loses a proton and gains a neutron

Answer 1

Generally with successive half-life a new element is formed from the decayed nuclei:

isotope - daughter nucleus has same no. of protons (same atomic number) so the same element is formed in the decay

isotone - daughter nucleus has same number of neutrons so the atomic number has changed and a new element is formed (new atomic number)

isobar - daughter nucleus has same mass number - this could be an example of beta decay where the decayed nucleus has the same mass number but loses a neutron and gains a proton because of the lost electron and a new element is formed with the atomic number increases by 1

Example:

U238 Uranium - alpha to Th234

Th234 Thorium - 2 beta to U234 (back to U but atomic mass less by 4)

U234 Uranium - alpha to Th230

Th230 Thorium - alpha to Ra226

etc. but during beta decay (electron loss) a neutron is lost and a proton gained (answer a)