Question 2. Since before chemistry existed, alchemist tried to change lead into

Question

Question 2. Since before chemistry existed, alchemist tried to change lead into gold. In practice, it turns out changing mercury into gold is easier. The lightest of the isotopes of mercury, 196Hg, can be converted into gold in a nuclear reactor by neutron capture, then decays into the only stable isotope of gold by electron capture.

a) Write the balanced equations of the Hg-to-Au transmutation.

b) If you bombard one of the heavy isotopes of mercury such as 202Hg with neutrons, however, you obtain thallium. Explain

Explanation / Answer

There are multiple questions here . i am allowed to answer only 1 at a time. I will answer 1st one for you. Please ask other as different question

a)
neutron emission followed by a alpha decay
in neutron emission mass number decraeses by 1
In alpha decay atomic number decreases by 2 and mass number decrease by 4
So,
decrease in mass number = 4+1 = 5
decrease in atomic number = 2
So,
Z = 5-2 = 3
A = 10 - 5=5
So X is Li
10                                                  5
    B       (n,alpha)   ---------->     LI
5                                                     3

b)
neutron emission followed by a gamma decay
in neutron emission mass number decraeses by 1
In atomic and mass number doesn't change
So,
decrease in mass number =1
decrease in atomic number = 0
So,
Z = 5
A = 10 - 1 = 9
So X is B
10                                                  9
    B       (n,gamma)   ------>       B
5                                                     5

c)
neutron emission followed by a proton emission
in neutron emission mass number decraeses by 1
in proton emission mass number decraeses by 1 and atomic number decreases by 1
So,
decrease in mass number =1+1 = 2
decrease in atomic number = 1
So,
Z = 5 -1 = 4
A = 10 - 2 = 8
So X is Be
10                                                  8
    B       (n,p) -------- ------>       B
5                                                     4

d)
Atomic number increases by 2
mass number increases by 2
2 neutron emission decreases mass number by 2
So,
x must increase mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2
I dont think there is a decay that increases mass number .
So please check this once

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