The first artificial radioactive substance was made by bombarding aluminum 15Al27, with fix-particle. This produced an unstable isotope of phosphorus, 15P30, What was the byproduct of this reaction?
Correct answer: D. A neutron
- A. An α-particle
- B. A β-particle
- C. A γ-ray
- D. A neutron
Explanation
Aluminium-27 bombarded by an alpha particle gives phosphorus-30 plus a neutron. The balance confirms it: mass 27 + 4 = 31 = 30 + 1, and charge 13 + 2 = 15 + 0. The missing byproduct is therefore a neutron.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2014 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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About Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous transformation of unstable nuclei, described by decay constant, activity, half life and the exponential decay law. Work includes alpha, beta and gamma emissions, decay equations and remaining nuclei, with half life distinguished from the time required for complete decay.
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