Textbook Question
How can a nucleus emit an electron during β decay when there are no electrons present in the nucleus to begin with?
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Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 11, Problem 46
Identify the starting radioisotopes needed to balance each of these nuclear reactions:
a. ? + 42He → 11349In
b. ? + 42He → 137N + 10n
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the nuclear reaction. The goal is to identify the missing radioisotope (denoted by '?') that balances the reaction. The reaction involves the addition of an alpha particle (⁴₂He) to an unknown isotope, producing plutonium-244 (²⁴⁴₉₄Pu) and a neutron (¹₀n).
Step 2: Apply the principle of conservation of mass number. The sum of the mass numbers (top numbers) on the left side of the equation must equal the sum of the mass numbers on the right side. For the right side, the mass numbers are 244 (Pu) + 1 (n) = 245. On the left side, the mass number of the unknown isotope plus 4 (He) must also equal 245.
Step 3: Apply the principle of conservation of atomic number. The sum of the atomic numbers (bottom numbers) on the left side must equal the sum of the atomic numbers on the right side. For the right side, the atomic numbers are 94 (Pu) + 0 (n) = 94. On the left side, the atomic number of the unknown isotope plus 2 (He) must also equal 94.
Step 4: Solve for the mass number and atomic number of the unknown isotope. Subtract the mass number and atomic number of the alpha particle (⁴₂He) from the totals on the right side to find the values for the unknown isotope.
Step 5: Identify the element corresponding to the calculated atomic number using the periodic table. The atomic number determines the element symbol, and the mass number completes the isotope notation.
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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 the transformation of atomic nuclei through processes such as fusion or fission. In these reactions, the total number of protons and neutrons must be conserved, meaning the sum of the atomic numbers and mass numbers on both sides of the equation must be equal. Understanding how to balance these equations is crucial for identifying the missing reactants or products.
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Radioisotopes
Radioisotopes are unstable isotopes of elements that decay over time, emitting radiation in the process. They are often used in nuclear reactions as either reactants or products. Recognizing the specific radioisotopes involved in a reaction helps in determining the starting materials needed to achieve a balanced equation.
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Conservation of Mass and Charge
In nuclear chemistry, the conservation of mass and charge states that the total mass and charge before a reaction must equal the total mass and charge after the reaction. This principle is essential for balancing nuclear equations, as it allows one to deduce the unknown reactants or products by ensuring that both mass numbers and atomic numbers are accounted for in the equation.
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Related Practice
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How does nuclear fission differ from normal radioactive decay?
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How does ionizing radiation lead to cell damage?
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Why are rems the preferred units for measuring the health effects of radiation?
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Textbook Question
Bismuth-212 attaches readily to monoclonal antibodies and is used in the treatment of various cancers. This bismuth-212 is formed after the parent isotope undergoes a decay series consisting of four α decays and one β decay (the decays could be in any order). What is the parent isotope for this decay series?
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Textbook Question
What does it mean when we say that strontium-90, a waste product of nuclear power plants, has a half-life of 28.8 years?