Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of each of the following:

Question

bismuth 208 Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of each of the following:

Answer 1

Hey Anya,

Not sure why, but the table is showing up blank for me. However, let's take the example of Bismuth-208.

Alpha decay results in the decomposition of a radioactive element into another radioactive element and a He atom, which has a mass of 4 and an atomic number of 2. Therefore the mass of the element that Bismuth-208 decomposes into would be 204, and its atomic number would be 2 less than that of Bismuth (83). This would give us an element with atomic number 81, and a mass of 204, or Thallium-204.

Balanced chemical equation:

₈₃²⁰⁸Bi --> ₈₁²⁰⁴Tl + ₂⁴He

The formatting is a bit off, but the superscript number is the atomic mass of the atom, while the subscript number is the atomic number. To check that you balanced the equation correctly, Add the atomic masses together and the atomic numbers together and you should get the respective atomic mass and number for the original radioactive isotope.

Hope this helps!