Balancing Nuclear Equations
This differs from balancing general chemical equations because instead of balancing elements (or atoms) present, mass numbers (protons, neutrons) and atomic numbers are balanced.
For example:
Rn
Po
parent nuclide
daughter nuclide where the mass numbers are equal to 222, and the atomic numbers are equal to 86.
7 * 3
0TTK ? Pn7)
Exercise 1: Complete the following nuclear equations and identify X in each: The carbon-14 isotope forms when atmospheric nitrogen is bombarded by cosmic rays.
'GN
8n 7 'c
Uranium-238 has a half-life of about 4.5 billion years and is used to date very old rocks.
'3n J"`
232U
6 9
8 za
Exercise 2: Write complete nuclear equations for the following processes:
The carbon-14 isotope undergoes beta decay. This isotope has a half-life of 5730 years and is used to date once living plants and animals.
78-
The potassium-40 isotope undergoes electron capture. This isotope has a half-life of about 12 billion years and is also used to date rocks.
P `
0