Question

Calculate the number of 'alfa' and 'beta' particles in the given equation.
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Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

$\diamond$ Alpha particles or alpha radiations are radiations or particles consisting of helium nuclei

$\diamond$ Alpha particles can or are stopped by a sheet of paper

$\diamond$ Beta particles or beta radiations are radiations or particles consisting of electrons and positrons

$\diamond$ Beta particles can or are stopped by thin aluminium plate

$\diamond$ We know that when there is radioactivity there is change in :

1. mass number
2. atomic number

$\diamond$ Number of alpha particles and number of beta particles are calculated using the following equations

$\boxed{\alpha-particle = \dfrac{Difference \ in \ mass \ number}{4}}$

$\boxed{\beta -particles = (2*\alpha - particles) - Difference \ in \ atomic \ number }$

$\diamond$ Given that,

$\implies$ Mass number of Uranium = 238

$\implies$ Mass number of Lead = 206

$\implies$ Atomic number of Uranium = 92

$\implies$ Atomic number of Lead = 82

$\diamond$ Therefore,

$\implies$ Difference in mass number = 238 - 206

                                              = 32

$\implies$ Difference in atomic number = 92 - 82

                                                = 10

$\diamond$ Hence,

$\boxed{\alpha-particle = \dfrac{Difference \ in \ mass \ number}{4}}$

$\implies$ α-particles = $\dfrac{32}{4}$

$\implies$ α-particles = 8

$\boxed{\beta -particles = (2*\alpha - particles) - Difference \ in \ atomic \ number }$

$\implies$ β-particles = (2*8) - 10

$\implies$ β-particles = 16 - 10

$\implies$ β-particles = 6