In a disintegration series, the radionuclide undergoes two successive -decays followed by one -decay — Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity Chemistry Question
Question
In a disintegration series, the radionuclide ${}_{90}^{234}Th$ undergoes two successive $\beta^-$ -decays followed by one $\alpha$ -decay. What is the atomic number and mass number of the resulting stable or intermediate nuclide?
💡 Solution & Explanation
The parent nuclide is ${}_{90}^{234}Th$. Each $\beta^-$ -decay increases the atomic number by $1$ without changing the mass number. After two $\beta^-$ -decays, the nuclide becomes ${}_{92}^{234}U$. Next, it undergoes an $\alpha$ -decay, which decreases the mass number by $4$ and atomic number by $2$. The resulting nuclide will have an atomic number of $92 - 2 = 90$ and a mass number of $234 - 4 = 230$. The final nuclide is ${}_{90}^{230}Th$.