Final answer:
To complete a nuclear equation with a missing particle, write down known information, balance mass and atomic numbers, and use the periodic table for unknown particles, ensuring subscripts represent atomic numbers and superscripts denote mass numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete a nuclear equation with the missing particle notation, follow these steps:
Write the symbols of the known nucleoids, particles, and radiations in the reactants and products, using arrows to separate them. Leave a question mark for the unknown information.
- Balance the mass number on the two sides of the equation.
- Balance the atomic number on the two sides of the equation.
Write the symbols of the unknown nucleoids or particles by finding them in the periodic table, based on the atomic numbers.
To write a nuclear symbol, place the mass number as a superscript to the upper left of the chemical symbol and the atomic number as a subscript to the lower left of the symbol. For example, the nuclear symbol for helium-4 is ⁴₂He. When balancing the equation, ensure that the sum of mass numbers and atomic numbers are equal on both sides. If the missing particle is a neutral isotope, include both the atomic number and mass number in the symbol. For instance, carbon-12 would be written as ¹²₆C.