Polonium is a rare element with 33 radioisotopes. The most common one, 210 Po, has 82 protons and 128 neutrons. When 210 Po decays, it emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus (two protons and two neutrons). 210 Po decay is tricky to detect because alpha particles do not carry very much energy compared to other forms of radiation. They can be stopped by, for example, a sheet of paper or a few inches of air. That is one reason that authorities failed to discover toxic amounts of 210 Po in the body of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko until after he died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006. What element does an atom of 210 Po change into after it emits an alpha particle?

Question

Polonium is a rare element with 33 radioisotopes. The most common one,  210 Po, has 82 protons and 128 neutrons. When  210 Po decays, it emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus (two protons and two neutrons).  210 Po decay is tricky to detect because alpha particles do not carry very much energy compared to other forms of radiation. They can be stopped by, for example, a sheet of paper or a few inches of air. That is one reason that authorities failed to discover toxic amounts of  210 Po in the body of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko until after he died suddenly and mysteriously in 2006. What element does an atom of  210 Po change into after it emits an alpha particle?

Fabio Massa · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : When  210 Po emits an alpha particle, it is losing two protons. Po contains 82 protons, and investigation of the periodic table finds that the element with two less protons is Pb (lead).

Definitions

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Related questions