Answer:
a). The energy released by the alpha decay of 222 Rn is to 218 Po :
= 5.596 MeV
b).The energy of the alpha particle is 5.5 MeV
c) The recoil energy of Po = 0.096 MeV
Explanation:
The equation for the alpha decay of Rn to Polonium is:
The energy of the decay process can be calculated using:
= Change in the mass
Mass of Po = 218.008965 u
Mass of He = 4.002603 u
Mass of Rn = 222.017576 u
= mass of Po + mass of He - mass of Rn
= 4.002603 + 218.008965-222.017576
= - 0.006008
= -5.596 MeV
<u><em>The negative sign means energy is released during the process.</em></u>
b) The energy of the alpha particle is :
= 5.494 MeV
= 5.5 MeV
c).
Recoil energy: When the parent nucleus is at rest before the decay then , there must be the some recoil of daughter nucleus to conserve the momentum.This is termed as recoil energy.
<u><em>The energy of the recoil polonium atom :</em></u>
The formula for recoil energy is :
<em>The total energy - the kinetic energy</em>
<em>= 5.596 - 5.5 </em>
<em>= 0.096 MeV</em>