Uranium Decay (2 Viewers)

[philippaC]

How do you write the overall equation for the decay of uranium i.e. to lead?

 

[YannY]

overall it would be U->5He+Pb

 

[samwell]

it is a long process of alpha emissionz. look at conquerin chem to see the diagriam of the decay.

 

[xiao1985]

overall it would be U->5He+Pb

That is incorrect. As samwell pointed out, U decay involve step wise process involving alpha and beta negative decay. Each step has their own half lives.

Back in 02, I remeber it was necessary to remmeber the decay steps. But since then, syllabus has been amended, and you no longer need to remember it.

 

[VladimirNikolai]

Hey guys,

I've seen this diagram before (in fact we had to draw it from data), but I think what phillipa needs to know is how to write it as a simple equation. I know I have a booklet to do, as an assessment, and one of the questions is that it gives you the aforementioned table, then says "Write the equation for the change". I have no idea how to do this either.

 

[twilight1412]

well for an overall equation from start to finish ....
U --> Xe^- + YHe + Pb
where X is the number of beta decays
and Y is the number of alpha decays?

although i think this method is slightly dodgy i believe it answers the question

 

[VladimirNikolai]

Righto, I'll get back to you tomorrow after I ask my teacher. It sounds like it could be right. I mean, they only give you 2 lines.

 

[VladimirNikolai]

Sorry for the double post, but I talked to my teacher. apparently, at least for me, you have to write out the ENTIRE series of equations. i.e. U235 --> Th234 + He, continuing until you get to the lead. It sucks, yeah.

 

[xiao1985]

Yea, I heard individual "elite" schools require their students to know how to write eqns from beginning to finish.

You have my sympathy =/