Question

Considering both sides of the equation representing a nuclear reaction, which is the same before and after the reaction?(1 point)
Responses

the number of alpha particles
the number of alpha particles

the energy
the energy

​the total number of protons
​the total number of protons

the types of atoms

Answer 1

In a nuclear reaction, the quantity that remains the same before and after the reaction is **the total number of protons**. This is because the principle of conservation of charge dictates that the total number of protons (which defines the atomic number of the elements) must remain constant, even though the types of atoms (and possibly the energy) may change.

So, the correct response is:

**the total number of protons**