Question

Write a balanced nuclear reaction for the following: (₈₁²¹⁶Po → β⁻/+)

When balancing the nuclear reaction, explain the following:
How does the Law of Conservation of Matter dictate what the daughter nuclide is?
How do we calculate the atomic mass and atomic number for the daughter nuclide?
Where do we look up what the new daughter nuclide element is?
a) Law of Conservation of Matter predicts the daughter nuclide
b) By counting protons and neutrons for the daughter nuclide
c) Referring to periodic table for daughter nuclide element
d) Daughter nuclide is determined by the type of decay

Answer 1

The Law of Conservation of Matter dictates the daughter nuclide and how to calculate its atomic mass and atomic number. The element of the daughter nuclide can be determined by referring to the periodic table.

Step-by-step explanation:

When balancing a nuclear reaction, the Law of Conservation of Matter dictates that the total number of protons and neutrons must be conserved. This means that the atomic mass and atomic number of the parent nucleus must be equal to the sum of the atomic mass and atomic number of the daughter nucleus.

To calculate the atomic mass and atomic number of the daughter nuclide, you need to count the number of protons and neutrons it has. The number of protons is equal to the atomic number, while the number of neutrons is equal to the atomic mass minus the atomic number.

To determine the element of the daughter nuclide, you can refer to the periodic table. The atomic number corresponds to the element's position on the periodic table. The element with the same atomic number as the daughter nuclide is the one produced in the nuclear reaction.