What is the resulting atom when uranium-235 emits an alpha particle?

thorium
(b) By emitting an alpha particle, an atom of uranium-235 decays into an atom of thorium. An alpha particle, which is the same as a helium nucleus, is represented by the symbol .

What is the nucleus of uranium-235?

The nucleus of the U-235 atom comprises 92 protons and 143 neutrons (92 + 143 = 235). When the nucleus of a U-235 atom captures a moving neutron it splits in two (fissions) and releases some energy in the form of heat, also two or three additional neutrons are thrown off.

How is the nucleus of a uranium 238 atom different to the nucleus of a uranium-235 atom?

Explanation: These nuclides are both isotopes of uranium, and thus, each nucleus contains 92 protons – they would not be uranium isotopes otherwise. The isotopes differ in the number of neutrons contained in their nucleus. 238U contains (238−92) neutrons; 235U contains (235−92) neutrons.

Is uranium-235 a compound?

Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92.

How is a uranium-235 nucleus made to undergo fission?

When a free neutron hits the nucleus of a fissile atom like uranium-235 (235U), the uranium splits into two smaller atoms called fission fragments, plus more neutrons. Fission can be self-sustaining because it produces more neutrons with the speed required to cause new fissions. This creates the chain reaction.

How does alpha decay change the mass number of uranium?

Explanation: So, alpha decay, giving off an alpha particle, does the following: 1)reduces the atomic number (number of just protons) by two. Plutonium has atomic number of 94, take two protons away and you are left with 92 which corresponds to uranium. 2) reduces the mass number (protons plus neutrons) by 4.

What happens when uranium-235 decays into thorium?

By emitting an alpha particle, an atom of uranium-235 decays into an atom of thorium. An alpha particle, which is the same as a helium nucleus, is represented by “_2^4He. How would you complete the equation for this reaction? “_92^235U -> “_?^?He | Socratic By emitting an alpha particle, an atom of uranium-235 decays into an atom of thorium.

What happens when an alpha particle is emitted from an atom?

When a radioactive atom emits an alpha particle, the original atom’s atomic number decreases by two (because of the loss of two protons), and its mass number decreases by four (because of the loss of four nuclear particles).

What is the relationship between plutonium and alpha decay?

So, alpha decay, giving off an alpha particle, does the following: 1)reduces the atomic number (number of just protons) by two. Plutonium has atomic number of 94, take two protons away and you are left with 92 which corresponds to uranium. 2) reduces the mass number (protons plus neutrons) by 4.

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