Final answer:
The fission of Thorium-234 creates platinum-195 and Magnesium-24, along with 3 neutrons. The fission of Thorium-234 creates 3 neutrons, platinum-195, and Magnesium-24.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked what other atom is created alongside platinum-195 when thorium-234 undergoes fission and releases 3 neutrons. To find the correct answer, we can use the conservation of mass and charge in nuclear reactions. The atomic number (Z) and the mass number (A) must be conserved. The initial thorium-234 has a mass number of 234 and an atomic number of 90.
After losing a platinum-195 atom (with atomic number 78) and 3 neutrons (mass number 1 each), conservation of mass dictates that the other product atom must have a mass number of 234 - 195 - 3(1) = 36 and an atomic number of 90 - 78 = 12. This corresponds to magnesium-24, which has an atomic number of 12 and a mass number of 24. Magnesium-24 (C) is the correct answer to the question of what other atom is created.