When to use alpha decay

[510586]

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In chad's videos, he says to use alpha decay when the mass is too high (Z>83). Would alpha decay ever apply to an isotope whose mass is high? In his quiz, there was C-14 so I put that because the mass was higher than standard but the answer was uranium, even though its mass was actually slightly lower than its periodic table mass. Should we just stick to using alpha decay when Z>83?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

In chad's videos, he says to use alpha decay when the mass is too high (Z>83). Would alpha decay ever apply to an isotope whose mass is high? In his quiz, there was C-14 so I put that because the mass was higher than standard but the answer was uranium, even though its mass was actually slightly lower than its periodic table mass. Should we just stick to using alpha decay when Z>83?

By "mass is too high" he is referring strictly to Z>83 (heavy elements), not heavier than average isotopes of lighter elements.

 

[510586]

By "mass is too high" he is referring strictly to Z>83 (heavy elements), not heavier than average isotopes of lighter elements.

Got it thanks