A radioactive element ₉₂²⁴² X emits two particles, one electron and two positrons. The product nucleus is represented by _ P ²³⁴ Y . The value of P is

Step-by-step solution

Determining the atomic number P follows from applying the rules of radioactive decay to the transformation ₉₂²⁴² X _ P ²³⁴ Y . An decay reduces the mass number by 4 and the atomic number by 2. After two emissions, the mass number becomes 242 - 2 4 = 234 and the atomic number becomes 92 - 2 2 = 88 . A ^- decay leaves the mass number unchanged and increases the atomic number by 1. After this emission, the atomic number becomes 88 + 1 = 89 . A ^+ decay leaves the mass number unchanged and decreases the atomic number b