A radioactive nucleus X emits an alpha particle followed by two beta particles to form nucleus Y.
(a) With respect to the element X, where would you position the element Y in the periodic table?
(b) What is the general name of the elements X and Y?
(c) If the atomic number of Y is 80 then what is the atomic number of X?
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(a) $$\begin{aligned}_{\text Z}^{\text A}\text{X} \longrightarrow \\ _{\text Z-2}^{\text A - 4}\text{X}_1 + _{2}^{4}\text{He}\ \longrightarrow \\ _{\text Z-1}^{\text A - 4}\text{X}_2 + \\ _{-1}^{0}\text{e}\ \longrightarrow \\ _{\text Z}^{\text A - 4}\text{Y} + \\ _{-1}^{0}\text{e}\end{aligned}$$
We can see from the above that X and Y have same atomic number. Hence, X and Y will occupy the same position in the periodic table
(b) Isotope.
(c) When the atomic number of Y is 80 and X and Y are isotopes then atomic number of X will also be 80.