Question

1. in 1940, it was discovered that uranium could be artificially changed to plutonium, a process called transmutation. what combination of decay processes would convert u - 239 (92 protons) into pu - 239 (94 protons)?

o beta decay followed by beta decay.
o positron emission followed by electron capture.
o electron capture followed by alpha decay.
o alpha decay followed by beta decay.

Explanation:

Beta decay converts a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino. U - 239 (92 protons) needs to gain 2 protons to become Pu - 239 (94 protons). Two beta - decay processes can achieve this as each beta - decay increases the number of protons by 1. Positron emission and electron capture decrease the number of protons, and alpha decay decreases the number of protons by 2.

Answer:

Beta decay followed by beta decay.