Question

Technetium-99 does not occur naturally, but can be produced from molybdenum-98. what is the missing particle in this nuclear equation?

Answer 1

I believe that the correct nuclear equation is the image that I attached.

From the equation we can see that the number of electrons are balanced out, that is:

42 = 43 – 1

42 = 42

Now what’s left to balance is the mass number,

98 + ? = 99

To complete the gap, we need to fill in 1 neutron so that:

98 + 1 = 99

99 = 99

Answer:

a neutron

Answer 2

Referring to the Periodic table, we have the atomic numbers of molybdenum-98, which is 42. Neutron has mass number 1 and has no protons. Thus, the nuclear equation of molybdenum-98 bombarded with the neutron is(_42^98)Mo+ (_0^1)n → (_42^99)? The mass number of reactants is 99 (98 + 1 = 99). Therefore the mass number of the product must also be 99, and ? must have a mass number of 99. Likewise the atomic number on the left is 42 (42 + 0 = 42), and the unknown atomic number must be equal to 42. The unknown atomic number must be 42. Referring to the periodic table, we find that the element that has atomic number 42 is molybdenum Mo; therefore (_42^99)?= (_42^98)Mo. The complete nuclear equation is (_42^98)Mo+ (_0^1)n → (_42^99)Mo The missing is particle Molybdenum-99