The most abundant isotope of uranium,238U , does not undergo fission. In a breeder reactor, however, a 238U atom captures a neutron and emits two beta particles to make a fissionable isotope of plutonium, which can then be used as fuel in a nuclear reactor.Write the balanced nuclear equation.

Express your answer as a nuclear equation

Alright, here's a balanced nuclear equation for the process you described:

^238U + ^1n --> ^239U --> ^239Np + ^0e + ^0e

In this equation, ^1n represents a neutron, ^238U is the most abundant isotope of uranium, ^239U is an isotope of uranium, and ^239Np represents plutonium. The two ^0e represent beta particles emitted during the process.

The balanced nuclear equation for the process described is:

238U + 1n -> 239U -> 239Np + 0e + 0e

In this equation, 238U captures a neutron (1n) to form 239U. Then, through the emission of two beta particles (0e), it transforms into a fissionable isotope of plutonium called 239Np.

To write a balanced nuclear equation for this process, we need to identify the reactants and products involved in the reaction.

The reactant is a Uranium-238 atom (238U), which captures a neutron (n) and undergoes beta decay (β-) to form a fissionable isotope of Plutonium (239Pu).

The equation can be written as follows:

238U + n → 239Pu + β- + β-

This equation shows that a Uranium-238 atom captures a neutron and produces a Plutonium-239 atom along with two beta particles. Note that the equation is balanced in terms of mass number and atomic number.

Number before symbol = atomic number.

Number after symbol = mass number.

92U238 + on1= ?Xy + -1eo + -1eo
The atomic number (charge) must add up on both sides and the mass number must add up on both sides.
Therefore, 92 + 0 on the left must equal to ? + (-1) + (-1) on the right
? must be 92+1+1 = 94
y must be 238 + 1 on the left = y + 0 + 0; solve for y = 239
The element X then is the element with atomic number 94 which is Pu.
So ?Xy can be replaced with 94Pu239.