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Ch.20 - Nuclear Chemistry
McMurry - Chemistry 8th Edition
McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.20 - Nuclear ChemistryProblem 20.36d
Chapter 20, Problem 20.36d

Write balanced nuclear equations for the following processes.
(d) Positron emission of 165Ta

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1
Identify the original isotope and its atomic number and mass number. For 165Ta (tantalum), the atomic number (Z) is 73 and the mass number (A) is 165.
Understand that positron emission involves the conversion of a proton into a neutron within the nucleus, with the emission of a positron (β⁺) and a neutrino (ν).
Write the nuclear equation showing the original nucleus and the emitted particles. The original nucleus is 165Ta.
Since a proton is converted into a neutron, the atomic number will decrease by 1, resulting in the formation of a new element with atomic number 72 (hafnium, Hf) and the same mass number 165.
The balanced nuclear equation is: ^{165}_{73}Ta \(\rightarrow\) ^{165}_{72}Hf + ^{0}_{+1}e + \(\nu\)

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear reactions involve changes in an atom's nucleus and can result in the transformation of one element into another. These reactions include processes such as alpha decay, beta decay, and positron emission, where particles are emitted from the nucleus, altering the atomic number and mass number of the original atom.
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Positron Emission

Positron emission is a type of beta decay where a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, releasing a positron (the antimatter counterpart of an electron) and a neutrino. This process decreases the atomic number by one while keeping the mass number unchanged, resulting in the formation of a new element.
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Balancing Nuclear Equations

Balancing nuclear equations requires ensuring that the total number of protons and neutrons is the same on both sides of the equation. This involves accounting for the emitted particles and the resulting nuclide, maintaining conservation of mass and charge throughout the reaction.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Identify the true statement about nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. (a) Nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons both use uranium enriched to about 90% U-235. (b) Nuclear power plants emit large amounts of CO2 just like coal burning power plants. (c) The United States produces less than 1% of its electrical power from nuclear energy. (d) A nuclear weapon explodes when two pieces of fission-able uranium-235 are pushed together to reach a critical mass.
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Textbook Question

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations.

(d) <ISOTOPE CHEM REACTION>

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Textbook Question
How much energy in kJ/mol is released by the fission of uranium-235 to form barium-140 and krypton-93? The atomic masses are (a) 6.59 x 10^9 kJ/mol (b) 1.66 x 10^10 kJ/mol (c) 1.98 x 10^11 kJ/mol (d) 1.66 x 10^16 kJ/mol
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Textbook Question
Positron emission and electron capture both give a product nucleus whose atomic number is 1 less than the starting nucleus. Explain.
Textbook Question
Isotope A decays to isotope E through the following series of steps, in which the products of the individual decay events are themselves radioactive and undergo further decay until a stable nucleus is ultimately reached. Two kinds of processes are represented, one by the shorter arrows pointing right and the other by the longer arrows pointing left. (b) Identify and write the symbol for each isotope in the series: