Question

Chemistry! help! please!

1. Complete the following nuclear equation (attached w/ choices)

2. Which two particles have the same mass but opposite charge?
a. a beta particle and a positron
b. a neutron and a proton
c. a proton and an electron
d. an alpha particle and a proton

Answer 1

It would be 187 75 Re since 76 - 1 is 75 and number 2 would be beta particle and a positron.

Answer 2

1. Nuclear equations

Answer:

D. $_{75}^{187}\text{Re}$

Explanation:

Your unbalanced nuclear equation is

$? \longrightarrow _{76}^{187}\text{Os} + _{-1}^{0}\beta }$

It is convenient to replace the question mark by an atomic symbol, $_{x}^{y}\text{Z}$, where x = the atomic number, y = the mass number, and Z = the symbol of the element .

Then your equation becomes

$_{x}^{y}\text{Z} \longrightarrow _{76}^{187}\text{Os} + _{-1}^{0}\beta$

The main point to remember in balancing nuclear equations is that the sums of the superscripts and the subscripts must be the same on each side of the equation.  

Then

x = 76 - 1 = 75

y = 187 + 0 = 187

Element 75 is rhenium (Re), so the nuclear equation becomes

$_{75}^{187}\text{Re} \longrightarrow _{76}^{187}\text{Os} + _{-1}^{0}\beta$

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2. Nuclear Particles

Answer:

a. a beta particle and a positron

Explanation:

A beta particle is a negative electron ($_{-1}^{0}\text{e}$) and a positron is a positive electron ($_{+1}^{0}\text{e}$).

Thus, both have the same mass but opposite charge.

b. is wrong. A neutron and a proton have the same mass number but slightly different masses. Furthermore, a neutron has no charge, while a proton has a positive charge.

c. is wrong. A proton and an electron and an electron have opposite charges, but a proton has 1836 times the mass of an electron.

d. is wrong. An alpha particle has four times the mass and twice the charge of a proton .