what has to balance in a properly written nuclear transmutation reaction?

Question

example: Nitrogen-14 + helium-4 = Oxygen-17 and Hydrogen-one
can also be written as: N((alpha particle), p) O

does the reaction balance because it needs an alpha particle and an ejected particle on either side

Answer 1

Mass and charge must balance. The alpha particle is 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and they have to come from something (the He atom)

Answer 2

okay cool thanks