Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by...

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by supplying the missing particle: (a) ${ }_{94}^{239} \mathrm{Pu}+{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n} \longrightarrow{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+?$ (b) ${ }_{92}^{238} \mathrm{U}+{ }_{2}^{4} \mathrm{He} \longrightarrow 3{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+?$ (c) ${ }_{85}^{118} \mathrm{At} \longrightarrow{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+?$ (d) ${ }_{66 \mathrm{Sm}}^{146} \mathrm{\longrightarrow}{ }^{142} \mathrm{Nd}+?$ (e) ${ }_{53}^{118} \mathrm{I}+{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e} \longrightarrow ?$

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by supplying the missing particle:
(a) ${ }_{94}^{239} \mathrm{Pu}+{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n} \longrightarrow{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+?$
(b) ${ }_{92}^{238} \mathrm{U}+{ }_{2}^{4} \mathrm{He} \longrightarrow 3{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+?$
(c) ${ }_{85}^{118} \mathrm{At} \longrightarrow{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+?$
(d) ${ }_{66 \mathrm{Sm}}^{146} \mathrm{\longrightarrow}{ }^{142} \mathrm{Nd}+?$
(e) ${ }_{53}^{118} \mathrm{I}+{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e} \longrightarrow ?$

Key Concepts

Alpha Decay

Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, from an unstable nucleus. This process decreases the mass number by 4 and the atomic number by 2. Alpha decay is a common mode of decay for heavy nuclei and is used to explain changes in nuclear composition seen in certain nuclear reactions.

Electron Capture

Electron capture is a process in which an orbital electron is captured by the nucleus, causing a proton to convert into a neutron. This results in a decrease of the atomic number by one while the mass number remains the same. Electron capture is an alternative decay mechanism to beta plus decay and is essential for understanding the transformation of elements without a change in mass number.

Conservation Laws in Nuclear Reactions

In any nuclear reaction, both the total mass number (the sum of protons and neutrons) and the total atomic number (the number of protons) are conserved. This principle ensures that the reactants and products balance in terms of nucleon count and charge. When completing nuclear equations, it is essential to account for these conservation rules by ensuring that the sum of mass and atomic numbers is the same before and after the reaction.

Beta Decay

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a neutron is transformed into a proton with the emission of a beta particle (electron) in beta minus decay or a proton into a neutron in beta plus decay. In beta minus decay, the atomic number increases by one while the mass number remains unchanged. This decay process is crucial for describing nuclear transmutation and for balancing nuclear equations involving electron emission.

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