no, energy is not conserved in a radioactive decay
reaction, mass is loss in the form of
energy,
in a radioactive
decay which involve alpha beta or gamma , radiation
masses an
energy is lost in the two processes of
alpha beta while only energy is lost in
the gamma decay.
When an atom emits an alpha particle, a mass
equivalent to the size of a helium nuclei is lost also additional energy. While
in beta decay a mass equivalent to the size of an electron is lost in the
process whereas in a gamma emission only
energy s lost
We can calculate this mass and loss and energy lost by using the Einstein mass
energy elation.
Though a
balanced nuclear equation may not show energy loss of mass , as the masses and
charges on the poduct and reactant side are balanced both nonetheless mass and
energy is loss.
This mass
lost can be accounted for if we we consider the actual atomic masses of these
reacting atoms instead of the whole number atomic mass.
For example n
the equation below
234 90Th
→ 234 91Ac + 0 -1e
The mass
number of thorium is 234 but the actual mass of the thoium-234 is not a whole number but mixture
of whole number and decimal places, the isotope thorium-234 has an actual mass
of 234.0436.
Helium actual mass is not 4 , a whole number but 4.002602 u ±
0.000002 u, the part not shown in the mass number is what is lost or
converted to energy
The decimal
part in thorium, actinium above and helium is therefore lost as masses and energy.
Therefore in
nuclear reaction there are losses of
mass and tremendous creation of energy, this is why the process produces very
cheap power.
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