Nuclear Equations

Nuclear Equations - SOLUTIONS

1. 
   Bombardment of aluminum-27 by alpha particles produces phosphorous-30 and one other particle. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction and identify the other particle.
   

The other particle formed is a neutron

2. 
   Plutonium-239 can be produced by bombarding uranium-238 with alpha particles. How many neutrons will be produced as a by product of each reaction? Write the nuclear equation for this reaction?
   

Three neutrons are formed for every one nucleus of U-238 bombarded.

3. 
   When bombarded with neutrons, cobalt-59 is converted to cobalt-60. What is the nuclear equation for this reaction?
   

4. 
   One method for producing plutonium-238 is by bombarding uranium-238 with deuterium (hydrogen-2), which produced neptunium-238 and 2 neutrons. The unstable neptunium then decays to form plutonium-238. Write the nuclear equations for this two-step reaction. What other particle is produced in the second reaction?
   

A beta particle is also produced in the second reaction.

5. 
   Neutron bombardment of plutonium-239 yields americium-240 and another particle. Write the nuclear equation and identify the other particle produced.
   

The other particle produced is a beta particle.

6. 
   Alpha-particle bombardment of plutonium-239 produced a neutron and another radionuclide. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction and identify the radionuclide.
   

The radionuclide formed is Cm-242.

7. 
   One possible result of the impact of a neutron on a uranium-235 nucleus is the splitting of the uranium into tellurium-137, zirconium-97 and two other particles. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction and identify the two other particles.
   

The two other particles formed are neutrons.

8. 
   When bombarded with neutrons, lithium-6 produced an alpha particle and an isotope of hydrogen. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction. What isotope of hydrogen is produced?
   

The isotope formed is hydrogen-3.

9. 
   With what particle would you bombard sulfur-32 to produce hydrogen-1 and phosphorus-32? Write the appropriate nuclear equation?
   

10. 
    With what particle would you bombard bismuth-209 to produce astatine-211 and 2 neutrons? Express this reaction in the form of a nuclear equation.
    

The particle that bombards bismuth-209 is an alpha particle.