Uranium-234 decays to lead-214 through a series of alpha decays. Which of the following is the total number of alpha particles emitted in this decay series?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 5
D. 10
An alpha particle has a mass number of 4. The mass number in the decay of uranium-234 to lead-214 decreases from 234 to 214, so by 20. 20 ÷ 4 = 5 5 alpha particles were emitted in this decay series. The answer is C.
