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Ra-226 decays by alpha emissions. What is its decay product?
Solution:
The given word problem is about nuclear chemistry. Nuclear chemistry is the subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity, nuclear processes, such as nuclear transmutation, and nuclear properties. In this type of process, an element can be converted into another kind of element because its atomic number as well as its atomic weight will be changed. There are three types of emissions: alpha emission, beta emission, and gamma emission.
Ra-226 decays by alpha emissions as follows
where X is the unknown element. The atomic number and atomic weight of an unknown element is.
By looking the Periodic Table of Elements, the unknown element is found out to be Radon which is located at Noble Gases.
Hence, the above nuclear equation can be written as follows
Therefore, the decay product Ra-226 is Rn-222. Alpha can also be written as He.