Write using correct notation the balanced nuclear reaction e

Write, using correct notation, the balanced nuclear reaction equation for each of the following:

a. Electron capture by 93/43 Tc

b. Alpha emission from 214/85 At

c. Decay of 74/31 Ga to form 74/32 Ge

d. Positron emission from 198/79 Au

Solution

Simply write the nuclear equation, bearing in mind that the sum of the atomic numberson both sides must be the same and the sum of the mass numbers on both sides must be the same. The convention for writing isotopes is atomic number - symbol -mass number, which is exactly the same as in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Except that in the Handbook the atomic number is subscripted and the mass number is superscripted.

8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + ???

The sum of the atomic numbers on the left is 8, and so it must be 8 on the right hand side. Since an alpha particle is a helium nucleus and has an atomic number of 2, then the other product must have an atomic number of 6. Repeat with the mass numbers. It\'s 17 on the left, and must be 17 on the right. Therefore, the mass number of the unknown product is 13, which makes the isotope C-13.

8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + 6C13

You need to know that when \"electron capture\" occurs, a proton is converted to a neutron, and so the atomic number of the product is one less and the mass number stays the same.

30Zn65 + -1e0 --> 29Cu65

Again, the sum of the atomic numbers on each side must be the same. The same is true for the mass numbers.