Practice portal › Nuclei › Nuclear Reactions, Fission and Fusion

The number of beta particles emitted by a radioactive substance is twice the number of alpha particles emitted by it. The resulting daughter is an

Asked in CBSE AIPMT 2009 · Q-value, decay and conservation laws

Answer: (4) isotope of parent

Step-by-step solution

Let the substance emit x alpha particles and 2x beta particles.

Mass number: each α removes 4 nucleons and each β removes none, so A falls by 4x.

Atomic number: each α lowers Z by 2 and each β⁻ raises it by 1.

Net change in Z: -2x+2x=0, so the atomic number is unchanged.

Same Z with a different A is the definition of an isotope, so the daughter is an isotope of the parent.

Why the other options are wrong

More Nuclear Reactions, Fission and Fusion questionsAll Nuclear Reactions, Fission and Fusion questions →

Reading this solution needs no sign-in. You only sign in to practise against the clock and keep your progress.

Practise this with a timer