Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c², and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u
Rn: 222.017570 u
Ra: 226.025402 u

Question

Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c², and the relevant mass values are

Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Rn: 222.017570 u Ra: 226.025402 u A) 4.24 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 4.87 MeV D) 5.05 MeV E) 5.39 MeV

He: 4.002603 u Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Rn: 222.017570 u Ra: 226.025402 u A) 4.24 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 4.87 MeV D) 5.05 MeV E) 5.39 MeV

Rn: 222.017570 u Radium-226 decays into radon-222 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Rn: 222.017570 u Ra: 226.025402 u A) 4.24 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 4.87 MeV D) 5.05 MeV E) 5.39 MeV

Ra: 226.025402 u

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, calculate the mass difference between the reactants (Ra) and the products (Rn + He):

226.025402 u - (222.017570 u + 4.002603 u) = 0.005229 u

Next, convert the mass difference to energy using Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2:

E = (0.005229 u) x (931.494 MeV/c^2/u) = 4.87 MeV

Therefore, the energy released in this process is 4.87 MeV, which corresponds to choice C.

Radium-226 Decays into Radon-222 Plus an Alpha Particle