Understanding Alpha Decay
Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which is essentially a helium nucleus (²⁴He). This particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
The Decay Equation
* Parent Nuclide: ²³²₉₀Th (Thorium-232)
* Alpha Particle: ⁴₂He
* Daughter Nuclide: We need to determine this.
The decay equation is:
²³²₉₀Th → ⁴₂He + ?
Balancing the Equation
To find the daughter nuclide, we balance the equation based on the conservation of atomic mass and atomic number:
* Atomic Mass: 232 (Thorium) = 4 (Helium) + ?
* ? = 232 - 4 = 228
* Atomic Number: 90 (Thorium) = 2 (Helium) + ?
* ? = 90 - 2 = 88
The Daughter Nuclide
The daughter nuclide has an atomic mass of 228 and an atomic number of 88. This corresponds to Radium-228 (²²⁸₈₈Ra)
Final Answer:
The product of alpha decay of Thorium-232 is Radium-228 (²²⁸₈₈Ra).
