A nucleus undergoes alpha decay, reducing its mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2. How many neutrons remain in the daughter nucleus if the parent had 146 neutrons and 92 protons?
Q1. A nucleus undergoes alpha decay, reducing its mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2. How many neutrons remain in the daughter nucleus if the parent had 146 neutrons and 92 protons?
Answer: 140
Explanation: Neutrons = (Parent protons + neutrons) - decay losses. Alpha decay removes 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Option D fails to subtract 2 neutrons.