Question
Use the equation to complete the activity.
86
219
Rn→
84
215
Po+
2
4
He
The nuclear equation shows the transmutation of a form of radon into polonium and an alpha particle. In one to two sentences, explain whether or not the reaction is balanced based on the number of protons and neutrons.
86
219
Rn→
84
215
Po+
2
4
He
The nuclear equation shows the transmutation of a form of radon into polonium and an alpha particle. In one to two sentences, explain whether or not the reaction is balanced based on the number of protons and neutrons.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
To determine if the nuclear equation is balanced, we need to check that the total number of protons and neutrons on both sides is equal.
On the left side, radon (Rn) has 86 protons and (86 - 86) = 0 neutrons (total of 86). On the right side, polonium (Po) has 84 protons and 215 - 84 = 131 neutrons, plus the alpha particle (He) which has 2 protons and (4 - 2) = 2 neutrons (total of 86).
Adding them up on the right side gives us 84 + 2 = 86 protons and 131 + 2 = 133 neutrons, resulting in a total of 86 protons and 133 neutrons. Thus, the reaction is not balanced in terms of neutrons.
On the left side, radon (Rn) has 86 protons and (86 - 86) = 0 neutrons (total of 86). On the right side, polonium (Po) has 84 protons and 215 - 84 = 131 neutrons, plus the alpha particle (He) which has 2 protons and (4 - 2) = 2 neutrons (total of 86).
Adding them up on the right side gives us 84 + 2 = 86 protons and 131 + 2 = 133 neutrons, resulting in a total of 86 protons and 133 neutrons. Thus, the reaction is not balanced in terms of neutrons.