Tailings from uranium mining contain radium, which decays to produce radon. The radon is also radioactive and undergoes further decay. Assume the radium present is all ²²⁶Ra, and write the pair of reactions for these two radioactive events. Use Figure 14.4 to help choose the most plausible pathway for the decay of radon.

Figure 14.4

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Atomic number, Z 110 100 90 80 70 60 Nuclei with N/Z 50 ratios above the band 30 of stability often undergo positron 40 emission or electron capture. 20 1 10 0 Stable isotopes Radioactive isotopes 0 10 20 30 40 1 50 60 Beyond Z = 83, all isotopes are unstable and undergo a decay. N=Z Nuclei with N/Z ratios below the band of stability often undergo beta decay. 70 80 90 100 Neutron number, N 110 120 130 140 150 160