In the²³⁸U decay series shown in Fig. 43.7, some nuclides in the series are found much more abundantly in nature than others, even though every²³⁸U nucleus goes through every step in the series before finally becoming²⁰⁶Pb. Why don??t the intermediate nuclides all have the same abundance?

Fig.43.7

Transcribed Image Text:

N 146 4.47 x 10° y 238U 145 234Th 144 24.10 d 143 234Pa 70s 142 234U 2.46 x 10 y 141 140 230TH 7.54 x 104 139 138 1600 y 226Ra 137 136 222Rn 3.82 d 135 134 3.10 m 218Po 133 a decay 132 214p 27 m | 214Bi 131 19.9 m 214Po 19.9 m B decay 130 210 T 129 1.637 x 10s 1.30 m 210Pb 22.3 y 128 210Bi 127 5.01 d 210Po 126 125 206Pb 138.38 d 124 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Hg TI Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Ac Th Pa U Np