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Thorium-234 atomic number 90 the number of neutrons 144 undergo beta decay what is the resulting element?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
234Th---- beta minus------234Pa
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What is the relationship between the atomic number the mass and the number of neutrons and protons in an atom?
Glad you asked. Pull up a chair and we'll tackle this one. We need to do a little review before we confront the isotope issue. Ready? Then let's have at it. An atom is an atom, but it becomes a particular element when we know the number of protons in its nucleus. Each element has a unique number of protons in its nucleus, and that is what determines what element it is. Hydrogen has one, helium has two, etc. But the kicker is that, though each element has a specific number of protons, it can have different number of neutrons in the nucleus of one of its atoms and still be that element. Same element (same number of protons), but different numbers of neutrons. Different atomic configurations of a given element are called isotopes of that element. Take helium for example. It has two protons (which is what makes it helium), but it can appear with one or with two neutrons. Each of these is an isotope of helium, and each one is stable, meaning it will not spontaneously undergo any atomic transformation. One other thing is that there are about a million atoms of He-4 for every atom of He-3. There are other isotopes of helium with three, four and more neutrons, but these are artifically made and are unstable. They will decay in a fairly short time. Now we've covered isotopes. The mass number (or atomic mass number or nucleon number) is simply the number of protons plus the number of neutrons in an atom. That's all. If we talk about, say, an atom of U-235, which is a fissionable isotope of uranium, the 235 is the atomic mass number. The element uranium has the atomic number 92, which means that there are 92 protons in its nucleus. If we subtract that 92 from the 235, we get 143 as a result, and that will be the number of neutrons in the nucleus of that isotope of 92U. Simple and easy. One more example. Carbon has an atomic number of 6, and carbon-14 has 14 minus 6 = 8 neutrons in it. Now you've got the scoop on isotopes, mass numbers and neutron counts.
When a nucleus decays what typically happens to the element?
After an element's nucleus decays, it becomes one or more different elements. The type of decay determines what the new element(s) will be. The type of decay the nucleus of an element will undergo depends on the particular isotope of the particular element in question. For example, alpha decay results in an new element which has 2 less protons and 2 less neutrons (decrease in atomic number of 2 and decrease in mass number of 4). Fission results in an element splitting into two new elements of various sizes, accompanied by the release of other random particles. The two new "daughter" element's masses plus the masses of the other released particles will add up (approximately) to the mass of the original element. There are many other types of decay which produce different decay products.
Are control rods in nuclear reactors made of graphite?
No, control rods in nuclear reactors are not made of graphite. The control rods have to be able to gather up the neutrons to shut the reactor down, so boron is often selected. Graphite is used in some reactors as a moderator, and a moderator slows down neutrons. The slower neutrons have a greater ability to undergo neutron capture to continue the chain.
Why do some isotopes of elements spontaneously undergo radioactive decay?
Nuclei undergo radioactive decay in order to release some of the "stress" in the atom. At a certain point, the nucleus of an atom gets too large to sustain all of those protons and neutrons. When the "stress" is relieved, a phenomenon called radioactive decay occurs.
What particle is needed to begin a nuclear chain reaction?
Neutrons are the important particles of nuclear chain reactions and the reactions depend on them. The neutrons do not really start the fission, reaction, however, because the neutrons come from fission in the fuel.The material in the fuel, typically a mix of 235U and 238U, undergoes fission spontaneously. When a fission event happens, more neutrons, typically two or three, are emitted. These bounce about from atom to atom, until they cause another atom to undergo fission, releasing more neutrons to increase the rate at which atoms undergo fission.But the neutrons needed for the chain reaction are actually produced by the fuel spontaneously, and these are produce in an ongoing manner with or without critical mass. So it is not a particle that starts the chain reaction; it is the act of putting together a critical mass.
What is the meaninq of two isotopes stable and unstable isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Stable isotopes have a balanced number of protons and neutrons, meaning their nuclei do not decay over time. Unstable isotopes, also known as radioactive isotopes, have an imbalance of protons and neutrons, causing their nuclei to decay and emit radiation over time.
What does it mean for an element to undergo transmutation?
an element becomes a totally different element..
Which of the following element ability to undergo sublimation?
This element is iodine.
What is one of the daughter elements of urainium-238?
U238 is a stable isotope of uranium - it doesn't undergo decay except at a very very slow rate unless hit with Neutrons - then it will decay to Neptunium
How does carbon14 enter the atmosphere?
Cosmic rays bombard the upper atmosphere (see Carbon 14 wiki): "Carbon-14 is produced in the upper layers of the troposphere and the stratosphere by thermal neutrons absorbed by nitrogen atoms. When cosmic rays enter the atmosphere, they undergo various transformations, including the production of neutrons. The resulting neutrons (1n) participate in the following reaction: : 1n + 14N → 14C + 1H"
Which substance is most likely to undergo nuclear fusion?
Hydrogen is the element that is most likely to undergo nuclear fusion.
What reaction must uranium undergo in order to release energy?
Nuclear fission with thermal neutrons
Why does thorium undergo radioactive decay?
The ratio neutrons/protons in radioactive isotopes is the cause of their innstability.
What is the lightest element that can undergo radioactive decay and what type of decay occurs in that element?
The lightest "element" that can undergo radioactive decay is the isotope hydrogen-3, which undergoes beta decay. The lightest element with no radioactively stable isotopes is technetium, and its isotopes have different modes of decay.
What are the characteristics of the neutrons?
Neutrons have no electric charge and have nearly 1,840 times the mass of the electron. Free neutrons undergo beta decay with a half-life of about 10 minutes. Thus, they are not readily found in nature, except in cosmic rays. They are a penetrating form of radiation. When bombarded with neutrons, various elements undergo nuclear fission and release more free neutrons. If enough free neutrons are produced, a chain reaction can be sustained.
Does a roller coaster undergo acceleration while passing through an element?
yes
What does the mass number indicates in an element?
The atomic number (or mass number) is the proton number (the number of protons in the nucleus) added to the number of neutrons in the nucleus. The atomic mass is, for stable isotopes, roughly twice that of the proton number although the higher the proton number is the more the number of neutrons increases but this is most apparent in the very heavy elements. It is mainly useful in the use of decay equations as the neutrons lead to the stability of the atom so, when the atomic mass is above or below normal the atom can become unstable and is likely to undergo radioactive decay.
