Each of the following nuclides is known to undergo...

Each of the following nuclides is known to undergo radioactive decay by production of an alpha particle. Write a balanced nuclear equation for each process.
a. $\frac{227}{90} \mathrm{Th}$
b. $\frac{211}{83} \mathrm{Bi}$
c. $\frac{244}{96} \mathrm{Cm}$

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Key Concepts

Conservation Laws in Nuclear Reactions

In nuclear reactions, both the mass number (total number of protons and neutrons) and the atomic number (number of protons) are conserved. This means that the sum of these numbers must be the same on both sides of the nuclear equation. These conservation laws are essential for correctly balancing nuclear equations.

Nuclear Equation Notation

Nuclear equations use a standardized notation where nuclides are represented as ^{A}_{Z}X, with 'A' being the mass number, 'Z' the atomic number, and 'X' the chemical symbol of the element. This concise notation helps in tracking the changes in the nucleus during radioactive decay processes such as alpha decay.

Alpha Decay

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (essentially a helium-4 nucleus). This process decreases the parent nucleus's mass number by 4 and its atomic number by 2, leading to the formation of a new element called the daughter nucleus.

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