Question

Which isotope completes this nuclear reaction?

Answer 1

¹³₆C

Step-by-step explanation:

The given nuclear reaction is:

¹⁰₅B + ₂⁴He → ᵃₙX + ₁¹H

In balancing nuclear reaction equation, the mass number which are the superscript and atomic number, the subscript on both sides of the equation must be the same.

For the mass number:

10 + 4 = a + 1

14 = a + 1

a = 13

For the atomic number:

5 + 2 = n + 1

7 = n + 1

n = 6

Note: n is the same as z from the equation

therefore our atom is ¹³₆X which is an isotope of carbon, ¹³₆C