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Consider the following nuclear reaction 2He4 + ZXA = Z+2(Y)A+3 + W What particle does W denote ? A. electron B. positron C. proton D. neutron

aditya kashyap , 11 Years ago
Grade upto college level
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Askiitians Tutor Team

Last Activity: 15 Days ago

In the nuclear reaction you've presented, we need to identify what the particle W represents. The reaction is as follows: 2He4 + ZXA = Z+2(Y)A+3 + W. To solve this, let's analyze the components of the reaction step by step.

Understanding the Reaction Components

The left side of the equation features 2He4, which is a helium nucleus (specifically, an alpha particle). The term ZXA represents a generic nucleus with atomic number Z and mass number A. The right side includes Z+2(Y)A+3, which indicates a new nucleus formed from the reaction.

Conservation of Atomic and Mass Numbers

In nuclear reactions, both the atomic number (the number of protons) and the mass number (the total number of protons and neutrons) must be conserved. This means that the total number of protons and neutrons on the left side must equal those on the right side.

  • The atomic number of 2He4 is 2 (since helium has 2 protons).
  • The atomic number of ZXA is Z.
  • On the right side, the atomic number of Z+2(Y)A+3 is Z + 2.

From this, we can set up the equation for atomic numbers:

2 + Z = Z + 2 + Atomic number of W

By simplifying, we find that the atomic number of W must be 0, since the Z terms cancel out.

Analyzing Mass Numbers

Next, we look at the mass numbers:

  • The mass number of 2He4 is 4.
  • The mass number of ZXA is A.
  • On the right side, the mass number of Z+2(Y)A+3 is A + 3.

Setting up the equation for mass numbers gives us:

4 + A = A + 3 + Mass number of W

By simplifying, we find that the mass number of W must be 1.

Identifying Particle W

Now that we know the atomic number of W is 0 and its mass number is 1, we can deduce what W represents. A particle with an atomic number of 0 and a mass number of 1 is a neutron. Therefore, W denotes a neutron.

Final Answer

The correct answer to your question is:

  • D. neutron

This conclusion aligns with the principles of nuclear reactions, where conservation laws dictate the identities of the particles involved. In this case, the neutron balances the reaction by ensuring both atomic and mass numbers are conserved.

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