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30 April, 11:39

An isotope of Uranium, Z = 92 and A = 235, decays by emitting an alpha particle. Calculate the number of neutrons in the nucleus left behind after the radioactive decay.

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  1. 30 April, 13:52
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    141

    Explanation:

    The atomic number (Z) corresponds to the number of protons:

    Z = p

    while the mass number (A) corresponds to the number of protons+neutrons:

    A = p + n

    So the number of neutrons in a nucleus is equal to the difference between mass number and atomic number:

    n = A - Z

    For the initial nucleus of Uranium, Z = 92 and A = 235, so the initial number of neutrons is

    n = 235 - 92 = 143

    An alpha particle carries 2 protons and 2 neutrons: so, when the isotope of Uranium emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 neutrons. Therefore, the number of neutrons after the decay will be

    n = 143 - 2 = 141
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