Textbook Question
Give the symbol for (b) a beta particle.
Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement146
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions200
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry176
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution155
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry126
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms131
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements126
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding123
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories143
- Ch.10 - Gases147
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces91
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials122
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions126
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics174
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium101
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria139
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria146
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment72
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics129
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry142
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry101
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals68
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry66
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry10
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 21, Problem 11b
Give the symbol for (b) an alpha particle.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify that an alpha particle is a type of ionizing radiation emitted during radioactive decay.
Recognize that an alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, which is the same as a helium nucleus.
Understand that because an alpha particle is essentially a helium nucleus, it can be represented by the symbol for helium.
Recall the chemical symbol for helium, which is 'He'.
Since an alpha particle has a charge of +2 (due to the two protons and no electrons), the symbol for an alpha particle is written as
He^{2+}.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Alpha Particle
An alpha particle is a type of subatomic particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons, making it identical to a helium nucleus. It is emitted during the radioactive decay of certain heavy elements, such as uranium and radium. Alpha particles carry a positive charge and have relatively low penetration power, being stopped by a sheet of paper or human skin.
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Nuclear Symbols
Nuclear symbols are a shorthand notation used to represent atomic nuclei, indicating the number of protons and neutrons. For an alpha particle, the symbol is often written as '⁴₂He' or simply 'α'. The superscript indicates the mass number (total number of protons and neutrons), while the subscript indicates the atomic number (number of protons).
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Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation, which can include alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This process transforms the original nucleus into a different element or isotope, contributing to the stability of the atom. Understanding radioactive decay is essential for identifying the conditions under which alpha particles are produced.
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Related Practice
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Indicate the number of protons and neutrons in the following nuclei: (c) neptunium-237.
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Give the symbol for (c) gamma radiation.
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Indicate the number of protons and neutrons in the following nuclei: (b) 193Tl.
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Textbook Question
All the stable isotopes of boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine are shown in the accompanying chart (in red), along with their radioactive isotopes with t1>2 7 1 min (in blue). (b) Which radioactive isotopes are most likely to decay by beta emission? [Sections 21.2, 21.4, and 21.5]
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