Chapter 20, Problem 30QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The final isotope produced when thorium-$232$ loses a total of six $\alpha$ particles and four $\beta$ particles in a $10$-stage process is to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Thorium is a weak radioactive element with an atomic number of $90$. It is malleable, hard and its melting point is high. It has unstable isotopes. Thorium decays through $\alpha$-decays but very slowly which results in the formation of a decay chain. This decay chain is known as the thorium series, which ends on ${{}^{\text{208}}}_{\text{82}}\text{Pb}$, which is quite stable.