Which missing item would complete this alpha decay reaction?

""_(98)^(251) "Cf" -> ""_(96)^(247) "Cm" + "___"

A. ""_(-1)^(0) "e"

B. ""_(97)^(247) "Bk"

C. ""_(2)^(4) "He"

D. ""_(92)^(238) "U"

E. ""_(0)^(0) gamma

1 Answer

"Option" C-> ""_2^4He

Explanation:

"The decay would have helium left after the reaction."

""_98^251 Cf → ""_96^247Cm +""_2^4He

"We know the atomic masses of the elements but we do not know"
"know the number of protons of the substances ."
" But for this reaction number of neutrons are also required "

First determine the number of neutrons in Cf

"no. of neutrons = atomic weight - no. of protons"

"251 - 98 = 153 neutrons"

Then determine the number of neutrons in Cf

"no. of neutrons = atomic weight - no. of protons"

"247 - 96 = 151 neutrons"

This means there are more 2 protons and neutrons

"Decay in neutrons"

98 → 96 + 2

"Decay in protons"

153 → 151 + 2 helium atom as the electrons are number of electrons = no. of protons

Energy can be neither created nor destroyed .

Protons and neutrons are energy in scientific words

As energy cannot be destroyed so 251 → 247 cannot happen and there should be something more .

This is an alpha decay equation so this means there are more 2 electrons and neutrons which mean that the element is Helium without its electrons.An
α
particle is 2 protons and 2 neutrons bound together like they are within the nucleus of a Helium atom; it is so like a Helium nucleus that it is often written as 4/2He2+