question_answer

The isotope of uranium \[_{92}^{238}\text{U}\] decays successively to form \[_{90}^{234}Th,_{91}^{234}Pa,_{92}^{234}\]\[U,_{90}^{230}\]\[Th,_{88}^{226}Ra,\] and \[_{86}^{222}Rn\]. What are the radiations emitted in each decay process?                     

Answer:

                The successive decays can be represented as \[_{92}^{284}U\xrightarrow{_{2}^{4}He}_{90}^{234}Th\xrightarrow{^{_{-1}^{0}e}}_{91}^{234}Pa\xrightarrow{_{-1}^{0}e}_{92}^{234}U\] \[\xrightarrow{_{2}^{4}He}_{90}^{234}Th\xrightarrow{_{2}^{4}He}_{88}^{226}Ra\xrightarrow{_{2}^{4}He}_{86}^{222}Rn\] The radiations emitted in successive decays are: \[\alpha ,{{\beta }^{-,}}{{\beta }^{-}},\alpha ,\alpha ,\alpha .\]