Question

During a nuclear reaction, an unknown particle is absorbed by a thorium 232 90Th nucleus, and the reaction products are 227 89Ac, two neutrons, and an alpha particle. What is the atomic number of the nucleus formed when the 232 90Th nucleus absorbs the unknown particle

Answer 1

Answer: a.
`_(1)^(1)\textrm{H}`

b. Atomic number of the nucleus formed is 89 which is actinium.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nuclear fission reactions are defined as the reactions in which a heavier nuclei breaks down in two or more smaller nuclei.

In a nuclear reaction, the total mass and total atomic number remains the same.

For the given fission reaction:

`^(232)_(90)\textrm{Th}+^A_Z\textrm{X}\rightarrow ^(227)_(89)\textrm{Ac}+^(4)_(2)\textrm{He}+2^1_0\textrm{n}`

To calculate A, mass number

Total mass on reactant side = total mass on product side

232 + A = 227+4+2

A = 1

To calculate Z, atomic number

Total atomic number on reactant side = total atomic number on product side

90 + Z = 89 +2+ 0

Z = 1

`^(232)_(90)\textrm{Th}+^1_1\textrm{X}\rightarrow ^(227)_(89)\textrm{Ac}+^(4)_(2)\textrm{He}+2^1_0\textrm{n}`

The isotopic symbol of element with atomin number of 1 and mass number of 1 is
`_(1)^(1)\textrm{H}`

The atomic number of the nucleus formed is 89 which is actinium.