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What is the missing number in the nuclear reaction shown below?

What is the missing number in the nuclear reaction shown below?-example-1

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Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

The missing number in the nuclear reaction can be determined by analyzing the conservation of mass and charge.

In the given reaction, Pt → He + ? + Os, the atomic number (proton number) on the left side is 78 (Pt) and on the right side is 2 (He) + ? + 76 (Os).

Since the atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom and is conserved in a nuclear reaction, the sum of the atomic numbers on the right side should equal the atomic number on the left side.

Therefore, 2 + ? + 76 = 78.

To solve for the missing number, we can subtract 2 and 76 from both sides of the equation:

? = 78 - 2 - 76

? = 0

Hence, the missing number in the nuclear reaction is 0.

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