An atom of polonium-218 undergoes alpha decay. What new element is produced?

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An atom of polonium-218 undergoes alpha decay. What new element is produced?

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Answer 1 · 2016-04-24T13:07:16

Lead.

Explanation:

Alpha decay is the loss of two protons and two neutrons from a nucleus. This decreases the total mass number by $4$ $4$ and the atomic number by $2$ $2$ .

In the form of an equation this is

$_{84}^{218} Po \to_{82}^{214} X +_{2}^{2} He$ $""_ 84^218"Po"-> ""_ 82^214"X"+""_ 2^2"He"$

Looking at the periodic table we can find that element number $82$ $82$ is lead, $Pb$ $"Pb"$ , so the product element $X$ $"X"$ is $Pb$ $"Pb"$ .

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An atom of polonium-218 undergoes alpha decay. What new element is produced?

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