Alpha decay
Chemistry
Level
pending
Uranium-238 which has an atomic number of 92 undergoes alpha decay. As a result of this two elements are formed. Name the two new elements that are formed.
Lead and oxygen
Protactinium and nitrogen
Neptunium and helium
thorium and helium
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
1 solution
Alpha decay occurs with heavy elements such as uranium and plutonium. In alpha decay the uranium-238 loses two protons and two neutrons. This means that you subtract 4 from the atomic mass to get 234 and you subtract 2 from the atomic number to get 90. This leaves you with the element thorium and the element helium (which is an alpha particle). Extra info- An alpha particle is strongly ionising but does not penetrate that far. For example an alpha particle can be blocked by a sheet of paper.