Hello! I was just hoping someone could help me with solving these problems
1. Oxygen-16 plus a neutron results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle.
2. Zinc-65 decays by electron capture to give a new element.
You don't have to give me the answer, but maybe an example on how to solve these two questions, and how you did it? Please and thank you :)
1. Oxygen-16 plus a neutron results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle.
2. Zinc-65 decays by electron capture to give a new element.
You don't have to give me the answer, but maybe an example on how to solve these two questions, and how you did it? Please and thank you :)
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Simply write the nuclear equation, bearing in mind that the sum of the atomic numbers on both sides must be the same and the sum of the mass numbers on both sides must be the same. The convention for writing isotopes is atomic number - symbol - mass number, which is exactly the same as in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Except that in the Handbook the atomic number is subscripted and the mass number is superscripted.
8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + ???
The sum of the atomic numbers on the left is 8, and so it must be 8 on the right hand side. Since an alpha particle is a helium nucleus and has an atomic number of 2, then the other product must have an atomic number of 6. Repeat with the mass numbers. It's 17 on the left, and must be 17 on the right. Therefore, the mass number of the unknown product is 13, which makes the isotope C-13.
8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + 6C13
You need to know that when "electron capture" occurs, a proton is converted to a neutron, and so the atomic number of the product is one less and the mass number stays the same.
30Zn65 + -1e0 --> 29Cu65
Again, the sum of the atomic numbers on each side must be the same. The same is true for the mass numbers.
8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + ???
The sum of the atomic numbers on the left is 8, and so it must be 8 on the right hand side. Since an alpha particle is a helium nucleus and has an atomic number of 2, then the other product must have an atomic number of 6. Repeat with the mass numbers. It's 17 on the left, and must be 17 on the right. Therefore, the mass number of the unknown product is 13, which makes the isotope C-13.
8O16 + 0n1 --> 2He4 + 6C13
You need to know that when "electron capture" occurs, a proton is converted to a neutron, and so the atomic number of the product is one less and the mass number stays the same.
30Zn65 + -1e0 --> 29Cu65
Again, the sum of the atomic numbers on each side must be the same. The same is true for the mass numbers.
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Using the following notation
X(Z,A) where X is the unknown element, Z is the atomic number and A is the mass number (neutrons = A-Z)
O(8,16) + n -> O(8,17) -> alpha(2,4) + X(6,13)
Since there are 6 protons, X must be C so you have Carbon 13, C(6,13)
2 Z(30, 65) + e- -> X(29, 65)
Electron captured by a proton to make n
e- + p+ -> n
since Z changed, the element is different than Zinc - it is one lower to the left which is Copper Cu
so
Z(30,65) + e- -> Cu(29,65)
Copper most abundant state is Cu(29,64), the above is an isotope of Cu.
X(Z,A) where X is the unknown element, Z is the atomic number and A is the mass number (neutrons = A-Z)
O(8,16) + n -> O(8,17) -> alpha(2,4) + X(6,13)
Since there are 6 protons, X must be C so you have Carbon 13, C(6,13)
2 Z(30, 65) + e- -> X(29, 65)
Electron captured by a proton to make n
e- + p+ -> n
since Z changed, the element is different than Zinc - it is one lower to the left which is Copper Cu
so
Z(30,65) + e- -> Cu(29,65)
Copper most abundant state is Cu(29,64), the above is an isotope of Cu.