Trace out the pathway that terminates with a stable nucleus for each of the radioactive decay.
Explanation of Solution
Calculation:
A. Thorium Series: A = 4n
There is another path from Bi-212
B. Uranium Series: A = 4n+2
C. Actinium Series: A = 4n+3
The above then breaks into two pathways, a and b, which eventually converge
At this point the chain diverges
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Chapter 27 Solutions
COLLEGE PHYSICS
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- Fallout from nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere is mainly 90Sr and l37Cs, which have 28.6- and 32.2-y halflives, respectively. Atmospheric tests were terminated in most countries in 1963, although China only did so in 1980. It has been found that environmental activities of these two isotopes are decreasing taster than their halflives. Why might this be?arrow_forward(a) Calculate the number of grams of deuterium in an 80.000L swimming pool, given deuterium is 0.0150% of natural hydrogen. (b) Find the energy released in joules if this deuterium is fused via the reaction 2H+2H3He+n. (c) Could the neutrons be used to create more energy? (d) Discuss the amount of this type of energy in a swimming pool as compared to that in, say, a gallon of gasoline, also taking into consideration that water is far more abundant.arrow_forwardData from the appendices and the periodic table may be needed for these problems. 53. You can sometimes find deep red crystal vases in antique stores, called uranium glass because their color was produced by doping the glass with uranium. Look up the natural isotopes of uranium and their halflives, and calculate the activity of such a vase assuming it has 2.00 g of uranium in it. Neglect the activity of any daughter nuclides.arrow_forward
- The purpose of producing 99Mo (usually by neutron activation of natural molybdenum, as in the preceding problem) is to produce 99mTc. Using the rules, verily that the decay of 99Mo produces 99mTc. (Most 99mTc nuclei produced in this decay are left in a metastable excited state denoted 99mTc.)arrow_forwardA piece of wood from an ancient Egyptian tomb is tested for its carbon-14 activity. It is found to have an activity per gram of carbon of A = l0 decay/min.g. What is the age of the wood?arrow_forwardA radioactive sample has an activity R. For each of the following changes, indicate whether the activity would increase, decrease. or remain unchanged. Indicate your answers with I, D, or U. (a) The number of radioactive nuclei in the sample is doubled. (b) The half-life of the radioactive nuclei is doubled. (c) The decay constant is doubled. (d) A time period equal to two half-lives is allowed to elapse.arrow_forward
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