What are the numbers of protons Z and neutrons N in the missing fragment of the following fission reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, we should recognize that the symbol TB7291_00 refers to the product of the fission reaction, not the missing fragment. The missing fragment would be represented by the first string of numbers and letters before the underscore (11eb1367_50f0_a727_8021_7d127992c4dc).

Based on the fact that this is a fission reaction, we know that a heavy nucleus was split into two smaller fragments. To determine the numbers of protons and neutrons in the missing fragment, we can add up the numbers of protons and neutrons on each side of the arrow in the reaction.

Starting with the left side of the arrow, the reactant nucleus is not specified, but we can assume that it is some heavy nucleus with an atomic mass around 235 (since that is a common nucleus for fission reactions). We also know that the neutrons are less than the number of protons in the reactant nucleus, since the fission process typically involves a neutron-induced instability that causes the nucleus to split. So we can write:

Reactant: A = 235, Z = >92, N = <143

On the right side of the arrow, we have two fragments. The first fragment is the product labeled TB7291_00, which we can assume is lighter than the missing fragment. The second fragment is the missing one, which we need to determine. We are given the numbers of protons and neutrons in the first fragment: Z = 50, N = 87. So we can write:

Product 1: Z = 50, N = 87
Product 2: Z = ?, N = ?

To balance the equation, we need the total numbers of protons and neutrons on each side to be equal. We know that the total number of protons must be conserved, so we can start by adding up the protons on the right side:

Total protons: 50 + Z = 87 + Z

Solving for Z, we get Z = 37. So the missing fragment has 37 protons.

To determine the number of neutrons, we can add up the neutrons on the right side:

Total neutrons: 87 + N = N' + N

where N' is the number of neutrons in the product labeled TB7291_00. We are not given N', but we know that the product is lighter than the missing fragment, so it should have fewer neutrons. Let's assume that it has around 40 neutrons (just a guess based on typical isotopes with Z around 50). Then we get:

Total neutrons: 87 + N = 40 + N

Solving for N, we get N = 55. So the missing fragment has 55 neutrons.

Putting it all together, we get:

Missing fragment: Z = 37, N = 55

So the best choice is B, which has the correct numbers of protons and neutrons for the missing fragment.

What Are the Numbers of Protons Z and Neutrons N