Question

How do you complete nuclear equations and describe its type of radiation?

Complete each of the following nuclear equations and describe the types of radiation.

A. C (Atomic Mass Number: 11, Atomic Number: 6) ---> B (Atomic Mass Number: 11, Atomic Number: 5) + ?

B. S (Atomic Mass Number: 35, Atomic Number: 16) ---> ? + beta particle

C. ? > Y (Atomic Mass Number: 90, Atomic Number: 39) + beta particle

D. Bi (Atomic Mass Number: 210, Atomic Number: 83) ---> ? + He (Atomic Mass Number: 4, Atomic Number: 2)

E. ? ---> Y (Atomic Mass Number: 89, Atomic Number: 39) + positron

Answer 1

Warning! Very long answer. You make sure that the sums of the superscripts and the sums of the subscripts are the same on each side of the equation.

Explanation:

A.

First, write the equation using nuclear symbols of the type `""_A^Z"X"`.

The atomic number (or nuclear charge) `A` is a subscript at the lower left.
The mass number `Z` is a superscript at the upper left.
`"X"` is the symbol of the particle.

Let's use `""_x^y"z""` as the symbol for our unknown particles.

This gives us

`""_6^11"C" → ""_5^11"B" + ""_x^y"z""`

Sum of superscripts: `11 = 11 + y`, so `y = 0`.

Sum of subscripts: `6 = 5 + x`, so `x = 1`.

The particle with a charge of -1 and a mass of zero is an electron.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_6^11"C" → ""_5^11"B" + ""_text(-1)^0"e""`

An electron is a β-particle, so this is an example of β-decay.

B.

`""_16^35"S" → ""_x^y"z" + ""_text(-1)^0"e""`

Sum of superscripts: `35 = y + 0`, so `y = 35`.

Sum of subscripts: `16 = x - 1`, so `x = 17`.

The atom with `Z = 17` is `"Cl"`.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_16^35"S" → ""_17^35"Cl" + ""_text(-1)^0"e""`

This is an example of β-decay.

C

`""_x^y"z" → ""_39^90"Y" + ""_text(-1)^0"e""`

Sum of superscripts: `y = 90 + 0`, so `y = 90`.

Sum of subscripts: `x = 39-1`, so `x = 38`.

The atom with `Z = 38` is `"Sr"`.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_38^90"Sr" → ""_39^90"Y" + ""_text(-1)^0"e""`

This is an example of β-decay.

D

`""_83^210"Bi" → ""_x^y"z" + ""_2^4"He""`

Sum of superscripts: `210 = y + 4`, so `y = 206`.

Sum of subscripts: `83 = x + 2`, so `x = 81`.

The atom with `Z = 81` is `"Tl"`.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_83^210"Bi" → ""_81^206"Tl" + ""_2^4"He""`

`""_2^4"He""` is an α-particle, so this is an example of α-decay.

E

A positron is a positively charged electron. Its nuclear symbol
is `""_1^0"e""`.

`""_x^y"z" → ""_39^89"Y" + ""_1^0"e""`

Sum of superscripts: `y = 89 + 0`, so `y = 89`.

Sum of subscripts: `x = 39 + 1`, so `x = 40`.

The atom with `Z = 40` is `"Zr"`.

∴ The nuclear equation is

`""_40^89"Zr" → ""_39^89"Y" + ""_1^0"e""`

This is an example of positron decay, also called `β^"+"`-decay.