Question detail
If a nuclear equation shows a mass number of 238 and an atomic number of 92 before decay, what are the mass number and atomic number after the emission of an alpha particle?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
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exam_style
Style
Topic
Atoms and nuclear radiation
Question
If a nuclear equation shows a mass number of 238 and an atomic number of 92 before decay, what are the mass number and atomic number after the emission of an alpha particle?
Answer
After the emission of an alpha particle, the mass number will be 234 and the atomic number will be 90.
Explanation
This question assesses the ability to apply knowledge of alpha decay to nuclear equations. It requires the student to correctly adjust the mass and atomic numbers based on the characteristics of alpha radiation.
Common mistake
Confusing Radiation Types
Students often confuse the types of radiation emitted based on changes in mass number and atomic number.
To fix this, students should practice identifying the changes in mass and atomic numbers for each type of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma) and relate them to the corresponding nuclear equations.
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