Chapter 24, Problem 24.139P

(a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Nuclear reaction for the given nuclear reactions has to be balanced.

Concept Introduction:

Balancing nuclear reaction equation: The balanced nuclear reaction should conserve both mass number and atomic number.

• The sum of the mass numbers of the reactants should be equal to the sum of mass numbers of the products in the reaction.
• The sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the reactants should be equal to the sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the products in the reaction.

(b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Energy of $\alpha$ emitted if ${}^{242}Pu$ is directly decayed to form more stable ${}^{238}U$ has to be calculated using the given data.

Concept introduction:

• Planck’s equation,

  $\begin{array}{c}\text{E}\text{=}\frac{\text{hc}}{\text{λ}}\\ \text{where, E}\text{=}\text{energy}\\ \text{h}\text{=}\text{Planck's}\text{constant}\\ \lambda =\text{wavelength}\end{array}$

Unit conversion:

  $1{\text{ MeV = 10}}^6\text{ eV = }1.602\times {10}^{-19}\text{ J}$