Chemistry / Unit 12 Chem 2522 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Balancing a Nuclear Equation
The idea
Balancing a nuclear equation means requiring the sum of mass numbers on each side to match and the sum of atomic numbers on each side to match, then identifying any unknown product from those two totals and the periodic table.
In practice
For an alpha particle striking magnesium-25 and releasing a proton plus an unknown nuclide, mass numbers give 4 + 25 = 1 + A, so A = 28, and atomic numbers give 2 + 12 = 1 + Z, so Z = 13, identifying the unknown product as aluminum-28.
Where people slip
Balancing only mass numbers while skipping the atomic-number balance can still identify a nuclide with the right mass but the wrong element, since two different elements can share a mass number.
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