Question

What happens to the total atomic number and mass number throughout a nuclear reaction?

- They are both conserved.
- The mass is conserved and the atomic number decreases.
- They both decrease.
- They both increase.

Answer 1

In a nuclear reaction, the total atomic number and mass number are conserved. The mass number may change, but the sum of the atomic numbers on the reactant side is equal to the sum of the atomic numbers on the product side. Likewise, the sum of the mass numbers on the reactant side is equal to the sum of the mass numbers on the product side.

option b is the correct

Step-by-step explanation:

In a nuclear reaction, such as alpha decay or electron capture, the total atomic number and mass number are conserved. This means that the sum of the atomic numbers on the reactant side equals the sum of the atomic numbers on the product side, and the sum of the mass numbers on the reactant side equals the sum of the mass numbers on the product side.

For example, in alpha decay, the mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2, while in electron capture, the mass number remains the same and the atomic number decreases by 1.