What two elements would result from the alpha decay of plutonium 238?

Answer 1

First off, it's better to be more careful in regards to the word element. What you actually mean is isotope. The difference is subtle, but important. If I had a large rock of Uranium ore that was just mined, you could say I had the element Uranium. However, the element is made up of a certain percentage of isotopes, those being a nucleus that has the same number of protons, 92 in this case, but different numbers of neutrons.

Secondly, alpha decay is defined as the spontaneous emission of a helium 4 nucleus from an isotope, so one of your two resulting elements when alpha decay is involved is always going to be helium. The other element is found by simply subtracting 2 from Pu's atomic number, which is 94, giving you the resulting element's atomic number, which is 92, otherwise known as uranium, specifically, the isotope U 234.

Answer 2

Pu 238 will decay to Uranium 234 after alpha decay occurs

Answer 3

238U---------alpha particles-----------234Th

Answer 4

The only element I can determine that Polonium decays into is Lead (Pb).

Answer 5

Two reactions are possible:
Pu-234------------Np-234 + neutrino
Pu-234...............U-234 + alpha

Answer 6

The isotopes created are uranium-230 and the alpha particle itself (helium-4).