Question

Which represents a balanced nuclear equation?

1) 23/11Na ——>24/11Mg+1/1H

2) 24/11Na ——>24/12Mg+0/-1e

3) 24/13Al ——>24/12Mg+0/-1e

4) 23/12Mg ——>24/12Mg+1/0n

Answer 1

The correct option is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a nuclear reaction balanced we have that:

1. The sum of the mass number (A) of the reactants (r) is equal to the sum of the mass number of the products (p)
`\Sigma A_(r) = \Sigma A_(p)`

2. The sum of the atomic number (Z) of the reactants is also equal to the sum of the atomic number of the products
`\Sigma Z_(r) = \Sigma A_(p)`

So, let's evaluate each option.

1)
`^(23)_(11)Na \rightarrow ^(24)_(11)Mg + ^(1)_(1)H`

The mass number of the reactant is:

`A_(r) = 23`

The sum of the mass number of the products is:

`A_(p) = 24 + 1 = 25`

This is not the correct option because it does not meet the first condition (
`\Sigma A_(r) = \Sigma A_(p)`).

2)
`^(24)_(11)Na \rightarrow ^(24)_(12)Mg + ^(0)_(-1)e`

The mass number of the reactant and the products is:

`A_(r) = 24`

`A_(p) = 24 + 0 = 24`

Now, the atomic number of the reactants and the products are:

`Z_(r) = 11`

`Z_(p) = 12 + (-1) = 11`

This nuclear reaction is balanced since it does meet the two conditions for a balanced nuclear equation, (
`\Sigma A_(r) = \Sigma A_(p)` and
`\Sigma Z_(r) = \Sigma Z_(p)`).

3)
`^(24)_(13)Al \rightarrow ^(24)_(12)Mg + ^(0)_(-1)e`

The mass number of the reactant and the products is:

`A_(r) = 24`

`A_(p) = 24 + 0 = 24`

Now, the atomic number of the reactants and the products are:

`Z_(r) = 13`

`Z_(p) = 12 + (-1) = 11`

This reaction does not meet the second condition (
`\Sigma Z_(r) = \Sigma Z_(p)`) so this is not a balanced nuclear equation.

4)
`^(23)_(12)Mg \rightarrow ^(24)_(12)Mg + ^(1)_(0)n`

The mass number of the reactant and the products is:

`A_(r) = 23`

`A_(p) = 24 + 1 = 25`

This reaction is not a balanced nuclear equation since it does not meet the first condition (
`\Sigma A_(r) = \Sigma A_(p)`).

Therefore, the correct option is 2.

I hope it helps you!