Beach sand mineral, monazite, is a rich source of thorium, available in large quantities in the state of Kerala in india. A typical monazite sample contains about `9% ThO_(2)` and `0.35% U_(3)O_(8).`^(208)Pb`` and `^(206)Pb` are the stable end-products in the redioactive decay series of `^(232)Th` and `.^(238)U`, respectively. All the lead (Pb) found in monazite is of radiogenic origin.
The isotopic atom ratio `^(208)Pb//^(232)Th` and `.^(238)U` are `1.41xx10^(10)` years and `4.47xx10^(9)` years, respectively. Assume that `^(208)Pb, `^(232)Th`` and `.^(238)U` remained entirely in the monazite sample since the formation of monazite mineral.
Thorium- `232` is a fertile material for nuclear energy. In thermal neutron irradiation, it absorbs a neutron and the resulting isotope forms `^(233)U` by successive `beta`-decays. Write the nuclear reactions for the formation of `^(233)U` from `^(232)Th`.
In nuclear fission of `^(233)U` a complex mixture of radioactive decay as shown below:
`_(42)^(101)Mo underset(t_(1//2)=14.6 min)(rarr)`_(43)^(101)Tc underset(t_(1//2)=14.3 min)(rarr)`_(44)^(101)Ru```

Answer

`^(232)Th overset(((n, gamma)))(rarr)`^(233)Th overset(beta-)(rarr) `^(233)Pa overset(beta-)(rarr) `^(233)U````