Question

Nuclearissionoccursthroughmanydifferent pathways. For the ission of U-235 induced by a neutron, write a nuclear equation to form: a. bromine-87, lanthanum-146, and more neutrons. b. a nucleus with 56 protons, a second with a total of 94 neutrons and protons, and 2 additional neutrons.

Answer 1

Answer: a)
`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^(1)_(0)\textrm{n} \rightarrow ^(87)_(35)\textrm {Br}+ ^(146)_(57)\La + 3^(1)_(0)n`

b)
`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^1_0\textrm{n}\rightarrow ^(140)_(56)\textrm{Ba}+^(94)_(36)\textrm{Kr}+2^1_0\textrm{n}`

Step-by-step explanation:

A nuclear fission reaction is defined as the reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into small nuclei along with release of energy.

a) The given reaction is
`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^(1)_(0)\textrm{n} \rightarrow ^(87)_(35)\textrm {Br}+ ^(146)_(57)\La + x^(1)_(0)n`

Now, as the mass on both reactant and product side must be equal:

`235+1=87+146+x`

`x=3`

Thus three neutrons are produced and nuclear equation will be:
`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^(1)_(0)\textrm{n} \rightarrow ^(87)_(35)\textrm {Br}+ ^(146)_(57)\La + 3^(1)_(0)n`

b) For the another fission reaction:

`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^1_0\textrm{n}\rightarrow ^(A)_(56)\textrm{Ba}+^(94)_(Z)\textrm{X}+2^1_0\textrm{n}`

To calculate A:

Total mass on reactant side = total mass on product side

235 + 1 = A + 94 + 2

A = 140

To calculate Z:

Total atomic number on reactant side = total atomic number on product side

92 + 0 = 56 + Z + 0

Z = 36

As Krypton has atomic number of 36,Thus the nuclear equation will be :

`^(235)_(92)\textrm{U}+^1_0\textrm{n}\rightarrow ^(140)_(56)\textrm{Ba}+^(94)_(36)\textrm{Kr}+2^1_0\textrm{n}`