Nuclear Equations Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What two quantities must balance on both sides of a nuclear equation?

Mass number (nucleon number) and charge (atomic number).

What are the steps to balance a nuclear equation?

e.g. $^{99}_{42}\mathrm{Mo} \rightarrow \;\mathrm{Tc} + ^{\;0}_{-1}\mathrm{e}$

1. Make the mass numbers total the same on each side: $99 = A + 0$, so $A = 99$.
2. Make the atomic numbers total the same: $42 = Z + (-1)$, so $Z = 43$.
3. Write the nuclide: $^{99}_{43}\mathrm{Tc}$.

How is an alpha particle written in a nuclear equation?

$^{4}_{2}\mathrm{He}$ (or $^{4}_{2}\alpha$).

How is a beta-minus particle written in a nuclear equation?

$^{\;0}_{-1}\mathrm{e}$.

How is a positron written in a nuclear equation?

$^{0}_{+1}\mathrm{e}$.

How are a gamma ray and a neutron written in a nuclear equation?

Gamma ray: $^{0}_{0}\gamma$; neutron: $^{1}_{0}\mathrm{n}$.