Use the equation to complete the activity.
219 86Rn→215 84Po+α
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
3 answers
The nuclear equation provided is balanced. This can be verified by checking both the atomic numbers and the mass numbers on both sides of the equation. On the left, radon (Rn) has an atomic number of 86 and a mass number of 219. On the right, polonium (Po) has an atomic number of 84 and a mass number of 215, and the alpha particle (α), which is a helium nucleus, has an atomic number of 2 and a mass number of 4. Adding atomic numbers, 84 (for Po) and 2 (for α), gives 86, which matches radon's atomic number. Adding mass numbers, 215 (for Po) and 4 (for α), gives 219, which matches radon's mass number. Therefore, the reaction conserves both atomic and mass numbers, and thus, it is balanced.
shorten
The nuclear equation is balanced because the sum of atomic and mass numbers before and after the reaction are equal: 219 (mass) and 86 (atomic) for radon equals 215 (mass) of polonium plus 4 (mass of the alpha particle) and 84 (atomic) of polonium plus 2 (atomic of the alpha particle).
3 answers