Cm-248 undergoes spontaneous radioactive decay by alpha submission. What is the resulting nuclide? Answer using the original isotope notation you learned (C-14, Ba-137, etc..)

Answer 1

Alpha decay produces a helium atom, ⁴₂He.

So, we set the reaction up as follows:

²⁴⁸₉₆Cm ==> ⁴₂He + X

So to get atomic mass and atomic numbers to be equal on both sides, X must have 94 protons and 244 neutrons. So X would be ²⁴⁴₉₄Pu

So, according to your isotope notation, the answer would be Pu-244