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 product 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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