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Alpha decay followed by a beta-negative?

Alpha decay followed by a beta-negative decay of bismuth-211?

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Alpha decay will reduce atomic mass by 4 units and atomic number by 2 units while beta minus decay will increase just the atomic number by 1 unit. Overall we will have a decrease of 4 units in mass and 1 unit in atomic number (goes down by 2 then up by 1)

    Bismuth, Bi, has atomic number of 83 so bismuth-211 can be written as 211/83 Bi. If we take out 4 mass units and 1 atomic number unit we are left with 207/82 but atomic number of 82 corresponds to lead, Pb, so overall we have:

    211/83 Bi -----------> 207/82 Pb

  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    gives gold-208

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