Chapter 20.4, Problem 20.4.1SR

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:  For the given abbreviated form of the nuclear reaction, balanced nuclear equation should be found.

Concept Introduction:

Nuclear reaction can be written in the shorthand notation with the parentheses. Bombarding particle, that is projectile can be represented as first symbol in the parentheses and the emitted particle that is ejectile which can be represented as the second particle in the parentheses.

Parent nucleus and daughter nucleus can be represented in the front part of the parentheses and back part of the parentheses respectively.

$\begin{array}{l}{}_7{N}^{15}\left(p,\alpha \right){}_6{C}^{12}\\ Parentnucleus\left(Projectile,ejectile\right)Daughternucleus\end{array}$

On accordance with law of conservation of mass, for any chemical reaction, total masses of reactants and products must be equal.