Final answer:
Balanced nuclear equations describe the reactants and products in nuclear reactions, such as the production of new isotopes through particle bombardment. Each equation conserves the number of protons and neutrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Writing balanced nuclear equations is critical in understanding both nuclear fusion and nuclear fission reactions. Here are the nuclear equations for each requested reaction:
- (a) The production of ¹⁷O from ¹⁴N by α particle bombardment:
¹⁴N + α → ¹⁷O + p - (b) The production of ¹⁴C from ¹⁴N by neutron bombardment:
¹⁴N + n → ¹⁴C + p - (c) The production of ²³³Th from ²³²Th by neutron bombardment:
²³²Th + n → ²³³Th - (d) The production of ²³⁹U from ²³⁸U by H bombardment:
²³⁸U + ²H → ²³⁹U + n
These equations show the transformation of isotopes during nuclear reactions, which are integral to our understanding of nuclear energy and transmutation.