The polonium isotope has atomic mass 209.982857 u. Other | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics

Chapter 43 Problem 43.58

Question

The polonium isotope \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) has atomic mass 209.982857 u. Other atomic masses are \({ }_{82}^{206} \mathrm{~Pb}\), 205.974449 u; \(_{83}^{209}\mathrm{Bi}\), 208.980383 u; \({ }_{83}^{210} \mathrm{Bi}\), 209.984105 u; \({ }_{84}^{209} \mathrm{Po}\) 208.982416 u; and \({ }_{85}^{210} \mathrm{At}\), 209.987131 u. (a) Show that the alpha decay of \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) is energetically possible, and find the energy of the emitted  \(\alpha\) particle. (b) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to emission of a proton? Why or why not? (c) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to emission of a neutron? Why or why not? (d) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to \(\beta^{-}\) decay? Why or why not? (e) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to \(\beta^{+}\) decay? Why or why not?

Solution

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The first step in solving 43 problem number 58 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: The polonium isotope \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) has atomic mass 209.982857 u. Other atomic masses are \({ }_{82}^{206} \mathrm{~Pb}\), 205.974449 u; \(_{83}^{209}\mathrm{Bi}\), 208.980383 u; \({ }_{83}^{210} \mathrm{Bi}\), 209.984105 u; \({ }_{84}^{209} \mathrm{Po}\) 208.982416 u; and \({ }_{85}^{210} \mathrm{At}\), 209.987131 u. (a) Show that the alpha decay of \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) is energetically possible, and find the energy of the emitted  \(\alpha\) particle. (b) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to emission of a proton? Why or why not? (c) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to emission of a neutron? Why or why not? (d) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to \(\beta^{-}\) decay? Why or why not? (e) Is \({ }_{84}^{210} \mathrm{Po}\) energetically stable with respect to \(\beta^{+}\) decay? Why or why not?
From the textbook chapter Nuclear Physics you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics 13 
Author Hugh D. Young; Roger A. Freedman; A. Lewis Ford
ISBN 9780321696861

The polonium isotope has atomic mass 209.982857 u. Other

Chapter 43 textbook questions

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