Of much concern to environmentalists is the radioactive
Chapter 6, Problem 9CI(choose chapter or problem)
Of much concern to environmentalists is the radioactive noble gas radon-222, which can seep from the ground into basements of homes and buildings. Radon-222 is a product of the decay of radium-226 that occurs naturally in rocks and soil in much of the United States. Radon-222, which has a half-life of 3.8 days, decays by emitting an alpha particle. Radon-222, which is a gas, can be inhaled into the lungs where it is strongly associated with lung cancer. Environmental agencies have set the maximum level of radon-222 in a home at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. (4.2, 4.3, 4.4)
A home detection kit is used to measure the level of radon-222.
a. Write the balanced nuclear equation for the decay of Ra-226.
b. Write the balanced nuclear equation for the decay of Rn-222.
c. If a room contains 24 000 atoms of radon-222, how many atoms of radon-222 remain after 15.2 days?
d. Suppose a room in a home has a volume of 72 000 L \((7.2 \times 10^4 ~\mathrm L)\). If the radon level is 2.5 pCi/L, how many alpha particles are emitted in one day?
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