A radioactive atom XYM emits two α particles and one β particle successively. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the product will be

Question

A radioactive atom XYM emits two α particles and one β particle successively. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the product will be (A) X - 4 - Y (B) X - Y - 5 (C) X - Y - 3 (D) X - Y - 6

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

An a-emission reduces the atomic mass by

4

and atomic number by

2

, whereas a

β

-emission increases the atomic number by

1

with no change in atomic mass

M_{Y}^{X} - α N_{Y - 2}^{X - 4} - α O_{Y - 4}^{X - 8} - β P_{Y - 3}^{X - 8}

Number of neutrons = mass number - atomic number

= X - 8 - Y + 3

= X - Y - 5

Q. A radioactive atom $_{Y}^{X} M$ emits two $α$ particles and one $β$ particle successively. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the product will be

$X - 4 - Y$

$X - Y - 5$

$X - Y - 3$

$X - Y - 6$

Q. A radioactive atom YX​M emits two α particles and one β particle successively. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the product will be

X−4−Y

X−Y−5

X−Y−3

X−Y−6

An a-emission reduces the atomic mass by 4 and atomic number by 2, whereas a β-emission increases the atomic number by 1 with no change in atomic mass MYX​−α​NY−2X−4​−α​OY−4X−8​−β​PY−3X−8​ Number of neutrons = mass number - atomic number =X−8−Y+3 =X−Y−5

Q. A radioactive atom $_{Y}^{X} M$ emits two $α$ particles and one $β$ particle successively. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the product will be

$X - 4 - Y$

$X - Y - 5$

$X - Y - 3$

$X - Y - 6$