AIM: How do I balance nuclear decay and transmutation equations?
For the last two days we have been learning about natural decay and artificial transmutations of radioactive nuclei.
BUT FIRST:
If you are missing work, you can get the information for the lab report here (with an example here) and the hypothesis here.
AND NOW…
Remember our four steps:
1. Draw your lines to split up the equation
2. Add up the top, solve for A
3. Add up the bottom, solve for Z
4. Use Z to identify X from the periodic table
Natural decay related back to half-life: after one half-life, half of the reactants (left side) will have undergone natural decay. Remember, this is not true for artificial transmutations.
Presentation: [gview file=”https://www.whsad.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Nuclear-Decay.ppt”]