Question

If a nucleus decays by successive b, a, a emissions, its mass number will Group of answer choices decrease by seven. decrease by two. decrease by four. decrease by eight. increase by four.

Answer 1

Answer:

The mass number will decrease by eight (8).

Explanation:

Given;

successive beta (b), alpha (a), alpha (a) emissions.

Generally, when a radioactive element emits a beta-particle (b), its mass number doesn't increase but its atomic number increases by 1 . $(^{0}_{-1}\beta )$

Also when a radioactive element emits an alpha-particle (a), its mass number decreases by 4, while its atomic number decrease by 2. $(^4_2\alpha)$

For the given question, a successive beta (b), alpha (a),  and alpha (a) emissions = (0) + (-4) + (-4) = -8

Thus, when a radioactive element emit a successive beta (b), alpha (a), alpha (a) particles, the mass number will decrease by eight (8).

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