GS-2 Physical Sciences Question 19

[h99h20baby]

I thought that with respect to B emissions they were that you subtracted one frm the bottom atomic number...why is it adding for those Beta emissions?

Basically I feel that sometimes I have to subtract 1 and sometimes I feel I am essentially adding one....where am I going wrong?

[admin]

[obert823775]

So, we should assume that the phrase "beta decay" refers to the emission of an electron (-beta)?

[kim.dangal6935]

Could this problem be also solved by process of elimination regarding the loss of neutrons due to B emissions?

the neutron count went from 136 total to 134.

Only answer D had 134 neutrons total.

[jellywing_2058]

Mass and Energy are Equivalent according to E = m c^2.
Thus, mass can be converted to energy and energy to mass, so it is in reality and completely, “The Conservation of Mass – Energy” and not just “Conservation of Energy’ or “Conservation of Mass”.

In this question The Initial Energy is that of the moving neutron, which is kinetic in nature.
After the collision, the result is a Nuclear Transmutation, a more massive nucleus of Np being the product.

The Mass – Energy change that has taken place is Energy (moving neutron) to Mass (a greater mass Np)

[jawrigh1]

What am I doing wrong I keep getting 84 protons?
We start with 238U, there are 3 alpha decays, 2 betas, and 3 gamma(which I know doesn't change anything). I can't get simple problems like this wrong. Please help me see what I'm doing wrong. I'm doing it just like the Dr. F says in the video.

[dbolak4784]

you start with 238 U 92
-4 U -2
234 U 90
-4 x -2
230 U 88
-4 x -2
226 x 86
-0 x +1 +beta particle
226 x 87
-0 x +1 +Beta particle
226 Ra 88

I was getting it wrong at first also then i just wrote it out and got the answer quickly by doing it that way.

[jawrigh1]

I thought that beta emissions was 0, -1.

[james.adam3659]

Isn't beta decay where an electron and an antineutrino are emitted while a neutron is converted to a proton? Thus, for 2 beta decays, you would add 2 to the atomic number, right??