Question

What is the net reaction for the nuclear decay chain of `"U"-234`?

Answer 1

`""_92^234"U" → ""_82^206"Pb" + 7color(white)(l)""_2^4"He" + 4color(white)(l)""_text(-1)^0"e"`

Explanation:

Uranium-234 decays to lead-206 in a series of 11 steps involving seven α-decays and four β-decays.

Here are the steps:

1. `""_92^234"U" → ""_90^230"Th" + ""_2^4"He"`
2. `""_90^230"Th" → ""_88^226"Ra" + ""_2^4"He"`
3. `""_88^226"Ra" → ""_86^222"Rn" + ""_2^4"He"`
4. `""_86^222"Rn" → ""_84^218"Po" + ""_2^4"He"`
5. `""_84^218"Po" → ""_82^214"Pb" + ""_2^4"He"`
6. `""_82^214"Pb" → ""_83^214"Bi" + ""_text(-1)^0"e"`
7. `""_83^214"Bi" → ""_84^214"Po" + ""_text(-1)^0"e"`
8. `""_84^214"Po" → ""_82^210"Pb" + ""_2^4"He"`
9. `""_82^210"Pb" → ""_83^210"Bi" + ""_text(-1)^0"e"`
10. `""_83^210"Bi" → ""_84^210"Po" + ""_text(-1)^0"e"`
11. `""_84^210"Po" → ""_82^206"Pb" + ""_2^4"He"`

Add them all up, and you get the overall equation

`""_92^234"U" → ""_82^206"Pb" + 7color(white)(l)""_2^4"He" + 4color(white)(l)""_text(-1)^0"e"`