It is time for science knowers to strut that Brain power for all to
see, and non science people to perhaps pick up a bit of knowledge.
Plutonium 239 emits an alpha particle every 7 seconds. What will the new nucleus look like after 1 minute.
You know the drill, It is solvable, not a trick question, and just a
bit of know-how is all.
2006-08-22 21:15:40 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Hmmm, I am guessing Wednesday is a Science off day.
Tommorrow will be Astronomy Question for you.
2006-08-22 21:42:13 · update #1
This one was a bit cheeky as there was 2 expected answers to this, only one of which is correct.
Plutonium has a Relative Atomic Mass of 239 amus’, and an Atomic number of 94. This means it has 94 Protons and 145 Neutrons (& 94 Electrons, which would be relevant if Beta Radiation was involved, but not here)
If it discharges an Alpha particle, it looses 2 Protons and 2 Neutrons. Therefore after the first 7 seconds, tha AMU becomes 235, and Atomic number 92 (Uranium 235).
Now, Graham_l will off the answer since he has done such a beutiful and simple job.
2006-08-23 04:50:32 · update #2
With the emission of an alpha particle, Plutonium 239 decays to Uranium 235. A given amount of Plutonium 239 may start by giving off an alpha particle every 7 seconds, but after a minute there will be approximately 8 fewer Plutonium 239 nucleii in the sample and 8 Uranium 235 nucleii. The half life of Uranium 235 is very long, so the chances of one of these 8 new nucleii decaying inside the first minute is virtually negligible.
If on the other hand you were simply wanting to know what would happen if you managed to remove 8 alpha particles from the one starting Nucleus of Plutonium-239, then the answer would be a non-existent isotope of Platinum (207).
2006-08-22 22:59:30 · answer #1 · answered by Graham I 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question does not even make sense.
Once pltonium 239 has emitted an alpha particle it is no longet plutonium 239.
And stating a frequency of alpha emission for a single nucleus is not meaningful, you can only quote a probability of decay per second.
And stating that a sample of plutonium 239 emits an alpha particle every 7 seconds is not informative because we do not know how many plutonium nuclei are present so we cannot derive a half life.
2006-08-23 04:23:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protactinium
2006-08-23 04:20:24 · answer #3 · answered by paul B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm a whole new nucleus, with a new outlook on life. I'm not at all sciencey but ta for the point!!
2006-08-23 04:21:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fission reaction????
I can't manupulate it.
2006-08-23 04:19:04 · answer #5 · answered by Ω Nookey™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will exactly the same..
2006-08-23 04:23:46 · answer #6 · answered by robert x 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋