Complete each of the following nuclear equations and describe the type of radiation:
e. ¹⁸⁸₈₀Hg → ? + ⁰₊₁e

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the type of nuclear reaction. The presence of ⁰₊₁e (a positron) indicates that this is a positron emission reaction, which occurs when a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, emitting a positron.
2. Step 2: Write the general form of the nuclear equation for positron emission: $A_{Z}X\to A_{Z-1}Y+e^{0\mathrm{+1}}$, where A is the mass number, Z is the atomic number, X is the parent element, and Y is the daughter element.
3. Step 3: Apply the conservation of mass number (A) and atomic number (Z). The mass number (A) remains the same, so A = 188. The atomic number (Z) decreases by 1 because a proton is converted into a neutron, so Z = 80 - 1 = 79.
4. Step 4: Determine the daughter element (Y) based on the new atomic number (Z = 79). Using the periodic table, the element with atomic number 79 is gold (Au).
5. Step 5: Write the completed nuclear equation: ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{18880}\to {\mathrm{Au}}^{18879}+e^{0\mathrm{+1}}$. The type of radiation is positron emission.

Key Concepts

Nuclear Equations

Nuclear equations represent the transformation of one element into another through nuclear reactions. They show the reactants and products, including the atomic and mass numbers. Understanding how to balance these equations is crucial for identifying the type of radiation emitted during the process.

Beta Decay

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle, which is an electron or positron, is emitted from an atomic nucleus. In the given equation, the emission of a positron (⁰₊₁e) indicates that a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, resulting in a decrease in atomic number while the mass number remains unchanged.

Radioactive Isotopes

Radioactive isotopes are variants of chemical elements that have unstable nuclei and emit radiation as they decay to a more stable form. The isotope ¹⁸⁸Hg is an example, and understanding its decay process helps in predicting the products and the type of radiation involved, which is essential for completing the nuclear equation.