What will be the product after the alpha decay of U238?
Correct answer: A. Th234
- A. Th234
- B. Po234
- C. Rn234
- D. None of these
Explanation
Option A is correct since Uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay to become Thorium-234. (The numbers following the chemical names refer to the number of protons plus neutrons.) In this reaction, Uranium-238 loses two protons and two neutrons to become the element Thorium-234.The alpha decay of uranium-238 (U-238) results in the formation of thorium-234 (Th-234) as the product.The decay of U-238 can be represented by the following equation:U-238 → Th-234 + He-4where He-4 is the alpha particle emitted during the decay process.Therefore, the product after alpha decay of U-238 is thorium-234 (Th-234).
Last updated
About Nuclear Physics
Atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons, with nuclear size, mass defect and binding energy describing their stability. The work covers alpha, beta and gamma decay, decay equations, half-life and decay rate, along with radiation safety and medical applications such as imaging, radiotherapy and tracers.
Practise Nuclear Physics
1,254 free Nuclear Physics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.