When Plutonium-239 undergoes alpha decay, it becomes:

A) Curium-241 + an alpha particle
B) Uranium-235 + an alpha particle
C) Neptunium-237 + an alpha particle
D) Plutonium-237 + an alpha particle

An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two electrons .
As a result, in alpha decay, the nucleus that decays loses two protons and two neutrons . So the mass number (239 in this case) decreases by 4 .
239 - 4 = 235,
So the new nucleus must be B) Uranium-235 , as it is the only one of the options that has an atomic mass of 235.

Answered by ollieboyne | 2024-06-10

The correct answer is option B. ;

Answered by IlaMends | 2024-06-12

When Plutonium-239 undergoes alpha decay, it transforms into Uranium-235 and emits an alpha particle. The correct answer is option B.) Uranium-235 + an alpha particle.
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Answered by IlaMends | 2024-10-12