Nuclear Decay and Element Transformation

The video tutorial explains how to balance nuclear equations using various examples, including carbon-14 undergoing beta decay, nitrogen-14 bombarded with neutrons, thorium-230 undergoing alpha decay, mercury-201 capturing an electron, aluminum-27 interacting with an alpha particle, and uranium-238 bombarded with carbon atoms. Each example demonstrates the process of ensuring mass and nuclear charge balance, identifying missing elements using atomic numbers, and applying algebraic methods to solve for unknowns.

What is the missing element when carbon-14 undergoes beta decay?

• Helium

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Boron

In the nitrogen-14 bombardment example, what is the missing element produced along with hydrogen?

• Carbon

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Helium

What is the atomic number of the missing element when thorium-230 undergoes alpha decay?

• 86

• 88

• 90

• 92

What is the missing element when thorium-230 undergoes alpha decay?

• Protactinium

• Uranium

• Radium

• Actinium

Which element is formed when mercury-201 undergoes electron capture?

• Lead

• Silver

• Platinum

• Gold

What is the mass number of the missing element when mercury-201 undergoes electron capture?

• 199

• 202

• 200

• 201

What is the atomic number of the missing element when aluminum-27 is bombarded with an alpha particle?

• 13

• 16

• 14

• 15

In the uranium-238 example, what is the mass number of the missing element?

• 250

• 248

• 246

• 244

What is the atomic number of the element formed when uranium-238 is bombarded with carbon atoms?

• 96

• 100

• 98

• 102

Which element corresponds to an atomic number of 98?

• Einsteinium

• Californium

• Mendelevium

• Fermium