Alpha Decay of Uranium-238

238U → 234Th + 4He

Обзор

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.

Участники

Роль Вещество Коэффициент Состояние
Реагент Uranium U 1 (s)
Продукт Thorium Th 1 (s)
Продукт Helium He 1 (g)

Пример из жизни

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

Промышленное значение

U-238 is the parent of the uranium decay series. Its long half-life makes it useful for dating geological formations billions of years old.

Свойства

Тип
Nuclear
Обратимая
Нет
Энергия
Экзотермическая
ΔH
-410000000,0 kJ/mol

Связанные реакции

Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Neutron Capture by Uranium-238 Beta Decay of Strontium-90 Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Beta Decay of Carbon-14 Proton-Proton Chain (Solar Fusion) Uranium-235 Fission Positron Emission of Carbon-11 Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan) Alpha Decay of Radium-226

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.