Balancing Nuclear Equations
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of polonium-210.
Read and Understand
What information are you given?
Reactant isotope = polonium-210
Radiation emitted = (alpha particle)
Use the periodic table to obtain the atomic number of polonium.
Plan and Solve
What unknowns are you trying to calculate?
Atomic number of product isotope, Z = ?
Mass number of product isotope, A = ?
Chemical symbol of product isotope, X = ?
What equation contains the given information?
Write and solve equations for atomic mass and atomic number.
206 = A
82 = Z
According to the periodic table, the element with an atomic number of 82 is lead, Pb. So, X is Pb. The balanced nuclear equation is shown below.
Look Back and Check
Is your answer reasonable?
The mass number on the left equals the sum of the mass numbers on the right. The atomic number on the left equals the sum of the atomic numbers on the right. The equation is balanced.
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of thorium-232.
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the beta decay of carbon-14.
Determine the product of alpha decay for americium-241.
Determine the product of beta decay for strontium-90.