A radioactive nucleus X undergoes spontaneous decay in the sequence
, where Z is the atomic number of element X. The possible decay particles in the sequence are :
β+, α, β−
β−, α, β+
α, β−, β+
α, β+, β−
β+, α, β−
The correct option is β+, α, β−.
Let's analyze the given radioactive decay sequence step-by-step to identify the emitted particles. Let the initial nucleus be represented as:
where A is the mass number and Z is the atomic number.
Step 1: First Decay
The first transition is from element X with atomic number Z to element B with atomic number Z - 1:
Here, the atomic number decreases by 1 (from Z to Z - 1). This decrease in atomic number by 1 corresponds to positron emission, also known as beta-plus decay (β+), where a proton turns into a neutron, emitting a positron () and a neutrino. Therefore, the first decay particle is β+.
Step 2: Second Decay
The second transition is from element B with atomic number Z - 1 to another state or isotope of element B (or another element) with atomic number Z - 3:
Here, the atomic number decreases by 2 (from Z - 1 to Z - 3). A decrease in the atomic number by 2 is characteristic of alpha decay (α), in which an alpha particle () is emitted. Therefore, the second decay particle is α.
Step 3: Third Decay
The third transition is to element D with atomic number Z - 2:
Here, the atomic number increases by 1 (from Z - 3 to Z - 2). An increase in the atomic number by 1 is characteristic of beta-minus decay (β−), where a neutron decays into a proton, emitting an electron () and an antineutrino. Therefore, the third decay particle is β−.
Combining the results of the three steps, the sequence of emitted decay particles is β+, α, β−.