In: Chemistry
Part A
What is the value of A in the following nuclear reaction?
212 208 A
PO ---> PB + X
94 82 Z
Express you answer as an interger
Part B
What is the value of Z in the following nuclear reaction?
212 208 A
PO ---> PB + X
94 82 Z
Express you answer as an interger
*Note: Are you sure you copied down the problem right? Po (Polonium) has atomic number \(84,\) not \(94 .\) Plutonium (Pu) is \(94 .\) There is only one atomic number for each unique element (i.e., 84 defines Po).
In nuclear reactions, the number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) must be the same on both sides of the equation.
Assuming this is the correct chemical reaction you are trying to express,
\({ }_{84}^{212} \mathrm{PO} \rightarrow{ }_{82}^{208} \mathrm{~PB}+{ }_{Z}^{A} \mathrm{X}\)
A represents the mass number (protons + neutrons). Hence, \(A=212-208=4\).
\(Z\) represents the atomic number. Hence, \(Z=84-82=2\)
The element with this atomic arrangement is Helium (He), which has 2 protons and 2 neutrons for a total of 4 nucleons. This is an example of alpha decay, a form of radioactive decay which releases an alpha (a) particle (He).