Question

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by including the missing particle. You may want to reference (Pages 906 - 909) Section 21.2 while completing this problem. Part A 25298Cf+105B → 310n+?

Answer 1

The missing particle is
`_(103)^(259)\textrm{Lr}`.

Step-by-step explanation:

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

For the given fission reaction:

`^(252)_(98)\textrm{Cf}+^(10)_(5)\textrm{B}\rightarrow ^A_Z\textrm{X}+3^1_0\textrm{n}`

To calculate A:

Total mass on reactant side = total mass on product side

252 +10 = A+ 3

A = 259

To calculate Z:

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

98 +5 = Z + 0

Z = 103

Hence, the isotopic symbol of unknown element is
`_(103)^(259)\textrm{Lr}`