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Large radionuclides emit an alpha particle rather than other combinations of nucleons because the alpha particle has such a stable, tightly bound structure. To confirm this statement, calculate the disintegration energies for these hypothetical decay processes and discuss the meaning of your findings:

(a)U238Th232+He3(b)U235Th231+He4(c)U235Th230+He5

The needed atomic masses are

role="math" localid="1661928659878" Th232232.0381uHe33.0160uTh231231.0363uHe44.0026uTh230230.0331uHe55.0122uU235235.0429u

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. The disintegration energy for the hypothetical decay U235Th232+He3is - 9.50 MeV.
  2. The disintegration energy for the hypothetical decay U235Th231+He4is 4.66 MeV.
  3. The disintegration energy for the hypothetical decay U235Th230+He5is - 1.30 MeV.

Step by step solution

01

Given data

The given atomic masses of the nuclides and alpha particles are:

Th232232.0381uHe33.0160uTh231231.0363uHe44.0026uTh230230.0331uHe55.0122uU235235.0429u

02

Understanding the concept of decay  

Massive nuclides tend to undergo alpha decay releasing disintegration energy. The disintegration energy, also known as the Q-value, is the energy that is absorbed or released when a nuclear reaction takes place. The Q-value is positive if the reaction is exothermic and negative if the reaction is endothermic. The potential barrier height of the nucleus indicates the energy it needs to overcome the internal forces and become an individual nucleus from the parent nucleus.

Formula:

The disintegration energy of a nuclear reaction,

Q=mparentnucleus-mdaughternucleic2 鈥︹ (i)

03

a) Calculate the disintegration energy

The disintegration energyfor uranium-235 鈥渄ecaying鈥 into thorium-232is given using the atomic masses and equation (i) as follows:

Q=m235U-m232Th-m3Hec2

Substitute the values and solve as:

Q=235.0429u-232.0381u-3.0160u931.5MeVu=-9.50MeV

Hence, the disintegration energy is - 9.50 MeV.

04

b) Calculate the disintegration energy

The disintegration energyfor uranium-235 decaying into thorium-231is given using the atomic masses and equation (i) as follows:

Q=m235U-m231Th-m4Hec2

Substitute the values and solve as:

Q=235.0429u-231.0363u-4.0026u931.5MeVu=4.66MeV

Hence, the disintegration energy is 4.66 MeV.

05

c) Calculate the disintegration energy

The disintegration energyfor uranium-235 decaying into thorium-230is given using the atomic masses and equation (i) as follows:

Q=m235U-m230Th-m5Hec2

Substitute the values and solve as:

role="math" localid="1661929289112" Q=235.0429u-230.0331u-5.0122u931.5MeVu=-1.30MeV

Hence, the disintegration energy is - 1.30 MeV.

Only the second decay process (the decay) is spontaneous, as it releases energy considering the positive sign of Q-value.

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