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Balancing Nuclear Equations Name: Period: There are two types of
nuclear reactions: Fission, where a nucleus breaks into two or more
pieces, and fusion where two or more nuclei combine to form a new
element. In nuclear reactions, only the nucleus is involved.
Electrons are ignored. Some atomic nuclei are inherently unstable
and spontaneously change or decay. There are four types of decay:
Type Symbol Charge of
particle Mass(AMU) Effect on
Atomic # Effect on Atomic
Mass Strength
Alpha +2 (He nucleus)
4 decrease by 2 decrease by 4 Stopped by paper
Beta- e- emission
- electron
-1 0 increase by 1 0 Aluminum Foil
Beta+ e- capture
+ Positron
+1 0 decrease by 1 0 Aluminum Foil
Gamma none none none none Lead The net result of , - or + decay
is a new element. In b- decay, a neutron decays into a p+ and an e-
which is then ejected. In + decay a p+ captures an e- and
transforms into a neutron. But despite the nature of the reaction
the law of conservation of matter still applies and the equations
are balanced the same way. Note particle is a helium nucleus!
Another type of reaction occurs when something impacts a
nucleus. These reactions result either in the nucleus splitting
(fission) or the combination of two or more nuclei to form a third,
different nucleus (fusion).
Balancing Nuclear Equations: Matter must be conserved including
all p+ & n. Example: Decay reaction ( decay)
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86219Rn"24He+ 84215Po
Fission Reaction
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01n+ 92235U"3692Kr+ 56141Ba +301n
Fusion Reaction:
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1735Cl+11H"1836Ar another example
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12H+13H"24He + n o
Practice
Fill in the missing symbol and name the reaction:1.
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13H" ___________+#10e
2.
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92232U" 90228Th + ___________
3.
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58144Ce" 59144 Pr+ ___________
4.
!
3065Zn" ___________++10e
5.
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1940K"1840Ar + ________
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6.
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47Be"47Be + ________
7.
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01n+ 92235U" __________" 55141Cs+3792Rb + ___________
8.
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86222Rn" _______+24He
9.
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53129I" 54129Xe + ________
10.
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94239Pu" _________+24He
11
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815O" 715N + ________
12. Write a balanced nuclear equation for each decay process
indicated. a. The isotope Th-234 decays by an alpha emission. b.
The isotope Fe-59 decays by a beta emission. c. The isotope Tc-99
decays by a gamma emission. d. The isotope C-11 decays by a
electron capture. Balance these equations: Note
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24He is the only stable isotope of helium.
13.
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11H+37Li" 14.
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47Be + n o " ______H + _______He
15. What is the balanced nuclear equation for the reaction of
curium-246 with carbon-12 to produce nobelium-254 and four
neutrons? 16. What is the balanced nuclear equation for the
reaction of californium-250 with boron-10 to produce lawrencium-258
and two neutrons?
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1.
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13H"23He+#10e - decay
2.
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92232U" 90228Th+24He decay
3.
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58144Ce" 59144 Pr+#10e - decay
4.
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3065Zn"2965Cu++10e + decay
5.
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1940K"1840Ar++10e + decay
6.
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47Be"47Be + # decay
7.
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01n+ 92235U" 92236U" 55141Cs+3792Rb +301n Fission
8.
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86222Rn" 84218Po+24He decay
9.
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53129I" 54129Xe+#10e - decay
10.
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94239Pu" 92235U+24He decay
11.
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815O" 715N++10e + decay
12. a.
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90234Th" 88230Ra+24He b.
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2659Fe"2759Co+#10e
c.
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4399Tc"4399Tc + # d.
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611C+"10e# 511B
13.
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11H+37Li"224 He or 48Be
14.
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47Be+01n "212H + 24He or 11H + 13H+ 24He
15.
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96246Cm+ 612C"102254No +401n
16.
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98250Cf + 510B"103258Lr +201n
Balancing Nuclear Equations (1)Balancing Nuclear Equation
(2)Balancing Nuclear Equations (3)
