Question

Sodium-24, a radioactive isotope having a half life of 15 hours is used medically in blood studies and it decays by beta decay. What would be the product of the radioactive decay of $Na-24$?

• A. F-20
• B. Ne-24
• C. Ne-23
• D. Na-23
• E. Mg-24

Answer 1

The correct option is E Mg-24

The product of the radioactive decay of $Na-24$ would be $Mg-24$
${}_{11}^{24}Na{\to }_{12}^{24}Mg{+}_{-1}^0\beta$
note: When beta particle (an electron) is lost, the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number remains unchanged.