Question

A mad scientist buys 1020 milligrams of plutonium-239. What is the complete question?

Answer 1

The balanced nuclear equation for the fission of plutonium-239, producing gold-204 and phosphorus-31, results in the emission of five neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

To balance the nuclear equation for the fission of plutonium-239 when it absorbs a neutron, we must consider the products given and the conservation of mass and atomic number. Plutonium-239 (239Pu) undergoes fission to create gold-204 (204Au) and phosphorus-31 (31P), with the emission of neutrons. Let's denote the number of neutrons emitted by 'n'.

The equation starts like this:

• 239Pu + n → 204Au + 31P + n(1n)

Since the atomic number must be conserved, we can balance the equation by adding the atomic numbers (Z) of the reactants and products. For plutonium-239 (Z=94) absorbing one neutron (zero charges), and creating gold-204 (Z=79) and phosphorus-31 (Z=15), we need to balance the atomic number:

• 94 + 0 = 79 + 15 + 0(n)

Similarly, we balance the mass numbers (A) by adding the mass numbers of plutonium-239 (A=239) and the neutron (A=1), which should equal the sum of the mass numbers of gold-204 (A=204), phosphorus-31 (A=31), and 'n' neutrons.

• 239 + 1 = 204 + 31 + n

Therefore, the balanced nuclear equation is:

• 239Pu + 1n → 204Au + 31P + 5(1n)

This implies that five neutrons are emitted during the reaction.