Which nucleus balances the following nuclear equation for the fission of Uranium-235.
235/92 U + 1/0 n —-> 90/38 Sr + a/z X + 2 1/0 n + Y
a.) 146/54 Xe
b.) 144/52 Te
c.) 142/50 Sn
d.) 146/52 Te
e.) 144/54 Xe
I’ve been trying to figure this out for about 30mins now. I . Need. Help.
Here's the easy way. BTW, I don't know what Y is or why it's there. Perhaps that stands for gamma radiation. If so that's mass number zero and atomic number zero.
You make the upper numbers add up on both sides. (mass numbers)
You make the lower numbers add up on both sides. (atomic numbers)
92 + 0 = 38 + 0 + z. Solve for z. Look it up on the periodic table.
235 + 1 = 90 + a + 2. Solve for a.
Looks complicated but easy to do this by adding on both sides for atomic number and atomic mass.
mass number ... 235 + 1 ---> 90 + a + (2 * 1)
atomic number ... 92 + 0 ---> 38 + z + (2 * 0)
solve for a and z
To balance a nuclear equation, you need to make sure that the total number of protons and neutrons is the same on both sides of the equation. Let's break down the equation to find the missing nucleus:
235/92 U + 1/0 n -> 90/38 Sr + a/z X + 2 1/0 n + Y
On the left side of the equation, Uranium-235 (235/92 U) has 92 protons and 143 neutrons. The neutron (1/0 n) has 0 protons and 1 neutron.
On the right side of the equation, Strontium-90 (90/38 Sr) has 38 protons and 52 neutrons. The first neutron (1/0 n) has 0 protons and 1 neutron, and the second neutron (1/0 n) also has 0 protons and 1 neutron.
To balance the equation, we need to determine the values of 'a' and 'z' for the nucleus 'X' and find the value for 'Y'.
Looking at the protons, we have:
92 + 0 = 38 + a
a = 92 - 38
a = 54
Looking at the neutrons, we have:
143 + 1 = 52 + z
z = 143 + 1 - 52
z = 92
The missing nucleus 'X' is therefore 54/92 X.
For 'Y', we have 235 - a - 2 = total number of neutrons on the right side.
235 - 54 - 1 - 1 = 179
The missing nucleus 'Y' is therefore 179/0 n.
Now let's go back to the answer choices and check which one matches our calculations:
a.) 146/54 Xe: This does not match the previously calculated 'X' (54/92).
b.) 144/52 Te: This does not match the previously calculated 'X' (54/92).
c.) 142/50 Sn: This does not match the previously calculated 'X' (54/92).
d.) 146/52 Te: This does not match the previously calculated 'X' (54/92).
e.) 144/54 Xe: This matches the previously calculated 'X' (54/92).
Therefore, the nucleus that balances the nuclear equation is 144/54 Xe, and the correct answer is option e.) 144/54 Xe.