Nuclear binding energy: 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

Nuclear binding energy: 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

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total mass before the decay is: 
226.025402 u 
The total mass after the decay is: 
222.017570 u (for Rn) + 4.002603 u (for He) = 226.020173 u 
The difference in mass is: 
226.025402 u - 226.020173 u = 0.005229 u

Converting to energy using 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c^2:

0.005229 u × 931.494 MeV/c^2 = 4.87 MeV

Therefore, the answer is C.

Nuclear Binding Energy: Radium-226 Decays into Radon-222 Plus an Alpha