Chapter 21: Problem 17
Predict the type of radioactive decay process for the following radionuclides: (a) \({ }_{5}^{8} \mathrm{~B}\), (b) \({ }_{29}^{68} \mathrm{Cu}\), (c) phosphorus32, (d) chlorine-39.
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Chapter 21: Problem 17
Predict the type of radioactive decay process for the following radionuclides: (a) \({ }_{5}^{8} \mathrm{~B}\), (b) \({ }_{29}^{68} \mathrm{Cu}\), (c) phosphorus32, (d) chlorine-39.
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Potassium-40 decays to argon-40 with a half-life of \(1.27 \times 10^{9} \mathrm{yr}\). What is the age of a rock in which the mass ratio of \({ }^{40} \mathrm{Ar}\) to \({ }^{40} \mathrm{~K}\) is \(4.2 ?\)
It has been suggested that strontium-90 (generated by nuclear testing) deposited in the hot desert will undergo radioactive decay more rapidly because it will be exposed to much higher average temperatures. (a) Is this a reasonable suggestion? (b) Does the process of radioactive decay have an activation energy, like the Arrhenius behavior of many chemical reactions \({ }^{\infty} 0\) (Section \(\left.14.5\right) ?\) Discuss.
Americium-241 is an alpha emitter used in smoke detectors. The alpha radiation ionizes molecules in an air-filled gap between two electrodes in the smoke detector, leading to current. When smoke is present, the ionized molecules bind to smoke particles and the current decreases; when the current is reduced sufficiently, an alarm sounds. (a) Write the nuclear equation corresponding to the alpha decay of americium-241. (b) Why is an alpha emitter a better choice than a gamma emitter for a smoke detector? (c) In a commercial smoke detector, only \(0.2\) micrograms of americium are present. Calculate the energy that is equivalent to the mass loss of this amount of americium due to alpha radiation. The atomic mass of americium- 241 is \(241.056829\) amu. (d) The half-life of americium-241 is 432 years; the half life of americium- 240 is \(2.12\) days. Why is the 241 isotope a better choice for a smoke detector?
The Sun radiates energy into space at the rate of \(3.9 \times 10^{26} \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{s} .(\mathrm{a})\) Calculate the rate of mass loss from the Sun in \(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{s}\). (b) How does this mass loss arise? (c) It is estimated that the Sun contains \(9 \times 10^{56}\) free protons. How many protons per second are consumed in nuclear reactions in the Sun?
The naturally occurring radioactive decay series that begins with \({ }_{92}^{235} \mathrm{U}\) stops with formation of the stable \({ }_{82}^{20} \mathrm{~Pb}\) nucleus. The decays proceed through a series of alpha-particle and beta-particle emissions. How many of each type of emission are involved in this series?
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