Alpha Decay of Uranium-238

238U → 234Th + 4He

Visão geral

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

Papel Substância Coeficiente Estado
Reagente Uranium U 1 (s)
Produto Thorium Th 1 (s)
Produto Helium He 1 (g)

Exemplo do cotidiano

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

Importância industrial

O U-238 é o progenitor da série de decaimento do urânio. A sua longa semivida torna-o útil para datar formações geológicas com milhares de milhões de anos.

Propriedades

Tipo
Nuclear
Reversível
Não
Energia
Exotérmico
ΔH
-410000000,0 kJ/mol

Reações relacionadas

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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.