Question #776cd

1 Answer
Sep 16, 2017

Here's how to balance nuclear equations.

Explanation:

The main point to remember is that the sums of the superscripts and the sums of the subscripts must be the same on each side of the equation.

Equation 1

#""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_x^y"Z"#

Sum of superscripts: #12 + 12 = y#, so #y = 24#.

Sum of subscripts: #6 + 6 = x#, so #x = 12#.

#x# is the atomic number of the element, and element 12 is magnesium.

∴ The nuclear equation is

#""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^24"Mg"#

Equation 2

#""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_x^y"Z"#

Sum of superscripts: #12 + 12 = 23 + y#, so #y = 1#.

Sum of subscripts: #6 + 6 = 12 + x#, so #x = 0#.

The particle with zero charge and a relative mass of 1 is a neutron.

∴ The nuclear equation is

#""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_0^1"n"#