Alpha Decay of Uranium-238

238U → 234Th + 4He

Descripción general

Uranium-238 emits an alpha particle (helium-4 nucleus) to become thorium-234. This is the first step in the uranium-238 decay series, which ultimately produces lead-206 through 14 decay steps. U-238 has a half-life of 4.47 billion years, roughly the age of the Earth.

Participantes

Rol Sustancia Coeficiente Estado
Reactivo Uranium U 1 (s)
Producto Thorium Th 1 (s)
Producto Helium He 1 (g)

Ejemplo cotidiano

Uranium-lead dating of rocks uses this decay to determine the age of geological formations and the Earth itself.

Importancia industrial

El U-238 es el progenitor de la serie de desintegración del uranio. Su larga semivida lo hace útil para datar formaciones geológicas de miles de millones de años.

Propiedades

Tipo
Nuclear
Reversible
No
Energía
Exotérmico
ΔH
-410000000,0 kJ/mol

Reacciones relacionadas

Alpha Decay of Radium-226 Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 Neutron Capture by Uranium-238 Beta Decay of Iodine-131 Beta Decay of Strontium-90 Alpha Decay of Polonium-210 Americium-241 Alpha Decay Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Electron Capture by Beryllium-7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Alpha Decay of Uranium-238?
The balanced equation is: ²³⁸U → ²³⁴Th + ⁴He.
What type of reaction is Alpha Decay of Uranium-238?
Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 is a nuclear reaction.
Is Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 exothermic or endothermic?
Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -410000000.0 kJ/mol.