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Is the following nuclear equation balanced?

Is the following nuclear equation balanced?-example-1
User Patorjk
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2 Answers

3 votes
no bc the top is 240 =/= 4+235
User Tonii
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Answer : The balanced alpha decay reaction will be,


_(93)^(240)\textrm{Np}\rightarrow _(91)^(236)\textrm{Pa}+_2^4He

Explanation :

Alpha decay : In this process, alpha particles is emitted when a heavier nuclei decays into lighter nuclei. The alpha particle released has a charge of +2 units.

The general representation of alpha decay reaction is:


_Z^A\textrm{X}\rightarrow _(Z-2)^(A-4)Y+_2^4\alpha

The given nuclear reaction is:


_(93)^(240)\textrm{Np}\rightarrow _(91)^(235)\textrm{Pa}+_2^4He

This reaction is an alpha decay reaction and this nuclear equation is an unbalanced reaction because in this reaction the atomic mass of 'Pa' should be 236 instead of 235.

Hence, the balanced alpha decay reaction will be,


_(93)^(240)\textrm{Np}\rightarrow _(91)^(236)\textrm{Pa}+_2^4He

User Aurand
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