Crianus Syliacus
Feb 17
**Nuclear Decay Series** - Discuss decay series and chains. - Illustrate with examples, such as the uranium decay series ? ?
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Feb 17
Decay series, also known as decay chains, refer to the sequence of radioactive decays that a particular radionuclide undergoes until it reaches a stable nuclide. This process involves the emission of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays, resulting in the transformation of the parent radionuclide into a series of daughter nuclides.
One of the most well-known decay series is the uranium decay series, which begins with uranium-238 (U-238) and ends with lead-206 (Pb-206) after a series of alpha and beta decays. The decay chain for U-238 is as follows:
1. Uranium-238 (U-238) undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-234 (Th-234).
2. Thorium-234 (Th-234) undergoes beta decay to form protactinium-234 (Pa-234).
3. Protactinium-234 (Pa-234) undergoes beta decay to form uranium-234 (U-234).
4. Uranium-234 (U-234) undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-230 (Th-230).
5. Thorium-230 (Th-230) undergoes alpha decay to form radium-226 (Ra-226).
6. Radium-226 (Ra-226) undergoes alpha decay to form radon-222 (Rn-222).
7. Radon-222 (Rn-222) undergoes alpha decay to form polonium-218 (Po-218).
8. Polonium-218 (Po-218) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-214 (Pb-214).
9. Lead-214 (Pb-214) undergoes beta decay to form bismuth-214 (Bi-214).
10. Bismuth-214 (Bi-214) undergoes beta decay to form polonium-214 (Po-214).
11. Polonium-214 (Po-214) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-210 (Pb-210).
12. Lead-210 (Pb-210) undergoes beta decay to form bismuth-210 (Bi-210).
13. Bismuth-210 (Bi-210) undergoes beta decay to form polonium-210 (Po-210).
14. Polonium-210 (Po-210) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-206 (Pb-206), which is stable.
This decay series illustrates the transformation of uranium-238 into lead-206 through a series of radioactive decays. Decay series are important in understanding the behavior of radioactive elements and their eventual decay into stable nuclides.
One of the most well-known decay series is the uranium decay series, which begins with uranium-238 (U-238) and ends with lead-206 (Pb-206) after a series of alpha and beta decays. The decay chain for U-238 is as follows:
1. Uranium-238 (U-238) undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-234 (Th-234).
2. Thorium-234 (Th-234) undergoes beta decay to form protactinium-234 (Pa-234).
3. Protactinium-234 (Pa-234) undergoes beta decay to form uranium-234 (U-234).
4. Uranium-234 (U-234) undergoes alpha decay to form thorium-230 (Th-230).
5. Thorium-230 (Th-230) undergoes alpha decay to form radium-226 (Ra-226).
6. Radium-226 (Ra-226) undergoes alpha decay to form radon-222 (Rn-222).
7. Radon-222 (Rn-222) undergoes alpha decay to form polonium-218 (Po-218).
8. Polonium-218 (Po-218) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-214 (Pb-214).
9. Lead-214 (Pb-214) undergoes beta decay to form bismuth-214 (Bi-214).
10. Bismuth-214 (Bi-214) undergoes beta decay to form polonium-214 (Po-214).
11. Polonium-214 (Po-214) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-210 (Pb-210).
12. Lead-210 (Pb-210) undergoes beta decay to form bismuth-210 (Bi-210).
13. Bismuth-210 (Bi-210) undergoes beta decay to form polonium-210 (Po-210).
14. Polonium-210 (Po-210) undergoes alpha decay to form lead-206 (Pb-206), which is stable.
This decay series illustrates the transformation of uranium-238 into lead-206 through a series of radioactive decays. Decay series are important in understanding the behavior of radioactive elements and their eventual decay into stable nuclides.
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