Question

When Plutonium-239 undergoes alpha decay, what does it become?

Answer 1

Alpha decay gives off alpha particles which

1.Reduces the atomic no. of Plutonium by 2.It has Atomic no. 94 that becomes 92 which corresponds to uranium.(As it take s 2 protons away)

2.Reduces mass no. by 4.It was Mass no. 239 that becomes 235 (As it takes 2 protons and 2 neutrons away)

So it becomes uranium that acts as a nuclear reactor.