Question

An element ₉₂U²³⁸ losses one alpha particle, and then one β-particle and then again one β- particle to get the final nucleus _bQ^a.
(i) Write down the values of a and b.
(ii) State the relationship between the nuclei P and Q.

Answer 1

(i) Calculation:

\[\ce{_92P^238->[α-particle]_90X^234->[β-particle]_91Y^234->[β-particle] _92Q^234}\]

\[\ce{_bQ^a and _92Q^234}\] being same. Hence a = 243 and b = 92

(ii) On examining P and Q, we find that their mass number are different, i.e., 238 and 234, but both have the same atomic number i.e., 92, hence P and Q isotopes of P.