Skip to main content
Pearson+ LogoPearson+ Logo
Ch.20 - Nuclear Chemistry
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.20 - Nuclear ChemistryProblem 20.31d
Chapter 20, Problem 20.31d

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations.
(d) <ISOTOPE CHEM REACTION>

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the missing particle or isotope in the nuclear reaction. This is typically represented by a blank or a question mark in the equation.
Determine the type of nuclear reaction occurring (e.g., alpha decay, beta decay, positron emission, electron capture, etc.) based on the other particles and isotopes involved in the reaction.
Use the conservation of mass and atomic numbers to find the missing isotope. The sum of the mass numbers (top numbers) and the sum of the atomic numbers (bottom numbers) on both sides of the equation must be equal.
Write the symbol of the missing isotope using the element's symbol from the periodic table, and include the correct mass number and atomic number that balance the equation.
Double-check the balanced equation to ensure both mass and atomic numbers are conserved on both sides of the equation.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear reactions involve changes in an atom's nucleus and can result in the transformation of one element into another. These reactions include processes such as alpha decay, beta decay, and nuclear fission or fusion. Understanding the type of nuclear reaction is crucial for predicting the products and balancing the equations.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:06
Nuclear Binding Energy

Balancing Nuclear Equations

Balancing nuclear equations requires ensuring that both the mass number and atomic number are conserved during the reaction. This means that the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the atomic numbers on the reactant side must equal those on the product side. This principle is essential for accurately representing the transformation of isotopes.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:32
Balancing Chemical Equations

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers. Understanding isotopes is important in nuclear chemistry as they can undergo different types of decay and reactions, influencing the products formed in nuclear equations.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:36
Isotopes
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Identify the true statement about nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. (a) Nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons both use uranium enriched to about 90% U-235.(b) Nuclear power plants emit large amounts of CO2 just like coal burning power plants. (c) The United States produces less than 1% of its electrical power from nuclear energy. (d) A nuclear weapon explodes when two pieces of fission-able uranium-235 are pushed together to reach a critical mass.
396
views
Textbook Question
How much energy in kJ/mol is released by the fission of uranium-235 to form barium-140 and krypton-93? The atomic masses are (a) 6.59 x 10^9 kJ/mol (b) 1.66 x 10^10 kJ/mol (c) 1.98 x 10^11 kJ/mol (d) 1.66 x 10^16 kJ/mol
559
views
Textbook Question

Write balanced nuclear equations for the following processes.

(d) Positron emission of 165Ta

110
views
Textbook Question
Isotope A decays to isotope E through the following series of steps, in which the products of the individual decay events are themselves radioactive and undergo further decay until a stable nucleus is ultimately reached. Two kinds of processes are represented, one by the shorter arrows pointing right and the other by the longer arrows pointing left. (b) Identify and write the symbol for each isotope in the series:

422
views
Textbook Question
Positron emission and electron capture both give a product nucleus whose atomic number is 1 less than the starting nucleus. Explain.
1004
views