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Chapter 19: Problem 39

Describe how you would prepare astatine- 211 , starting with bismuth-209.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Bismuth-209 can be transformed into astatine-211 through a series of neutron captures and beta decays.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the initial and final isotopes

The problem starts with bismuth-209 and ends with astatine-211. The atomic number of bismuth is 83 and that of astatine is 85.
02

Determine the nuclear reactions

To change the atomic number, we need beta decay or positron emission but, for this problem, a neutron source will be used for the bombardment. So, the nuclear reactions will involve neutron capture and beta minus decay.
03

Write the nuclear reactions

First, neutron capture occurs where bismuth-209 absorbs a neutron and becomes bismuth-210 \[ ^{209}_{83}Bi + ^1_0n \to ^{210}_{83}Bi \]. Then, the bismuth-210 undergoes beta-minus decay to become polonium-210, emitting a beta particle (an electron) and an electron antineutrino \[ ^{210}_{83}Bi \to ^{210}_{84}Po + ^0_{-1}\beta + ^0_0\overline{\nu}\]. Second, the polonium-210 absorbs a neutron and becomes polonium-211 \[ ^{210}_{84}Po + ^1_0n \to ^{211}_{84}Po \]. The polonium-211 then undergoes beta-minus decay and transforms into astatine-211 \[ ^{211}_{84}Po \to ^{211}_{85}At + ^0_{-1}\beta + ^0_0\overline{\nu}\].

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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