write a balanced nuclear equation for the reaction that occurs when uranium-335 absorbs a neutron and undergoes fission to produce 3 neutrons, bromine-65 and another nucleus.
To write a balanced nuclear equation for the given reaction, we need to understand a few key concepts:
1. Fission: Fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus, such as uranium-235 (U-235), absorbs a neutron and then splits into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy and additional neutrons.
2. Conservation of mass and atomic number: In a balanced nuclear equation, the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the atomic numbers must be equal on both sides of the equation.
With these concepts in mind, let's proceed to write the balanced nuclear equation for the given reaction:
Step 1: Identify the reactant and product nuclei:
Reactant nucleus: Uranium-335 (U-335) + neutron
Product nuclei: 3 neutrons + Bromine-65 (Br-65) + another nucleus (unknown)
Step 2: Write the equation, including the unknown product nucleus:
U-335 + neutron -> unknown product nucleus + 3 neutrons + Br-65
Step 3: Balance the equation using conservation laws:
To balance the equation, we need to ensure the total mass numbers and atomic numbers are equal on both sides.
Let's start by balancing the mass numbers:
On the reactant side: 335 + 1 = 336
On the product side: unknown + 0 + 65 = unknown + 65
To balance the mass numbers, the unknown product nucleus should have a mass number of 271.
Now, let's balance the atomic numbers (proton numbers):
On the reactant side: 92 + 0 = 92
On the product side: unknown + 0 + 35 = unknown + 35
To balance the atomic numbers, the unknown product nucleus should have an atomic number (proton number) of 57.
Therefore, the balanced nuclear equation is:
U-335 + neutron -> Unknown (mass number: 271, atomic number: 57) + 3 neutrons + Br-65
Note: The unknown product nucleus is stated as an unknown, as the specific identity of the nucleus cannot be determined solely from the given information. It would require further experimental analysis or context to identify the exact nucleus formed in the reaction.
To write a balanced nuclear equation for the reaction, we need to identify the atomic numbers and mass numbers of the reactants and products involved.
Given:
Reactant: Uranium-235 (U-235)
Products: 3 neutrons, Bromine-65 (Br-65), and another nucleus
Step 1: Identify the atomic numbers and mass numbers of the reactants and products.
Uranium-235 (U-235):
Atomic number = 92
Mass number = 235
Neutron:
Atomic number = 0
Mass number = 1
Bromine-65 (Br-65):
Atomic number = 35
Mass number = 65
Step 2: Write the balanced nuclear equation.
In nuclear reactions, we need to conserve both atomic number and mass number. In this reaction, U-235 absorbs a neutron and undergoes fission, resulting in the formation of three neutrons, Br-65, and another nucleus.
U-235 + n-1 → Br-65 + n-1 + n-1 + n-1 + x
Notice that the total atomic number should be conserved on both sides of the equation, meaning that the sum of atomic numbers before the reaction should equal the sum of atomic numbers after the reaction.
92 + 0 → 35 + 0 + 0 + 0 + x
Now we need to balance the mass numbers. The total mass numbers before and after the reaction should also be equal.
235 + 1 → 65 + 1 + 1 + 1 + x
To balance the equation, we can add up the mass numbers on both sides:
236 = 68 + x
Simplifying further, we find that:
x = 236 - 68 = 168
Therefore, the balanced nuclear equation for the given reaction is:
U-235 + n-1 → Br-65 + 3n-1 + X,
where X represents the other nucleus with a mass number of 168.