Question

Meitnerium undergoes alpha decay to form element 107, which in turn also emits an alpha particle. What are the atomic number and nucleon number of the isotope formed by these two steps?

Answer 1

Answer : The atomic number and nucleon of the isotope formed in 1st step i.e X are 107 and 264.

The atomic number and nucleon of the isotope formed in 2nd step i.e Y are 105 and 260.

Explanation :

Given : Element = Meitnerium

Atomic number = 109

Atomic mass = 268

Alpha decay : It is a radioactive decay in which nucleus emits an alpha particle and turns into different atomic nucleus. During alpha decay, an atom loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

Step 1 : Alpha decay equation when Meitnerium undergoes alpha decay.

$^{268}_{109}Mt\rightarrow ^{264}_{107}X+^4_2\alpha$

Step 2 : Alpha decay equation when $^{264}_{107}X$ undergoes alpha decay.

$^{264}_{107}X\rightarrow ^{260}_{105}Y+^4_2\alpha$

Nucleon number : It is also known as atomic mass number and it is equal to the total number of protons & neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Nucleon number = Atomic mass number

Therefore, The atomic number and nucleon of the isotope formed in 1st step i.e X are 107 and 264.

The atomic number and nucleon of the isotope formed in 2nd step i.e Y are 105 and 260.