Question

Question #776cd

Answer 1

Here's how to balance nuclear equations.

Explanation:

The main point to remember is that the sums of the superscripts and the sums of the subscripts must be the same on each side of the equation.

Equation 1

`""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_x^y"Z"`

Sum of superscripts: `12 + 12 = y`, so `y = 24`.

Sum of subscripts: `6 + 6 = x`, so `x = 12`.

`x` is the atomic number of the element, and element 12 is magnesium.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^24"Mg"`

Equation 2

`""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_x^y"Z"`

Sum of superscripts: `12 + 12 = 23 + y`, so `y = 1`.

Sum of subscripts: `6 + 6 = 12 + x`, so `x = 0`.

The particle with zero charge and a relative mass of 1 is a neutron.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_0^1"n"`