Homework Help: Chemistry

Posted by Jane on Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 3:54pm.

Each of the following nuclides is known to undergo radioactive decay by production of a beta particle, ^0_-1e. Write a balanced nuclear equation for each process. (Use 'e' for an electron, 'p' for a positron, and 'n' for a neutron. Omit states-of-matter from your answer.)

a.) ^14_6 C
b.) ^140_55 Cs
c.) ^234_90 Th

Chemistry - DrBob222, Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 4:09pm
You make the subscripts add up on both sides and the mass number add up on both sides as in the first one which I will do for you completely.
₆¹⁴C ==> X + _-1⁰

The first step shows the emission of a beta particle (an electron).
Step 2 is to make the subscripts and superscripts add up so the left side and the right side have equal numbers. Since the electron in -1 (subscript), then X must have a subscript of 7 (7-1=6). The superscript must be 14 (14+0=14), Then you look on the periodic table and find the element (X) with an atomic number of 7. That is N. The final equation, step 3, looks like this.
₆¹⁴C ==> ₇¹⁴N + _-1⁰e
Chemistry - DrBob222, Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 4:12pm
I made a typo on the first one. I omitted e from -1 ^0e.
Chemistry - Jane, Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 4:38pm
How did you get N?
Chemistry - DrBob222, Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 5:03pm
It's in my first post. I've bold faced it for you.

The first step shows the emission of a beta particle (an electron).
Step 2 is to make the subscripts and superscripts add up so the left side and the right side have equal numbers. Since the electron in -1 (subscript), then X must have a subscript of 7 (7-1=6). The superscript must be 14 (14+0=14), Then you look on the periodic table and find the element (X) with an atomic number of 7. That is N.

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