The nuclear transmutation reaction that leads to the synthesis of plutonium-241 is shown below.What is the identity of the α-particle bombardment target in this reaction? ? + He → Pu + n
A) U
B) U
C) Cm
D) Cm

Question

The nuclear transmutation reaction that leads to the synthesis of plutonium-241 is shown below.What is the identity of the α-particle bombardment target in this reaction? ? +  He →  Pu +  n
A) U 
B) U 
C) Cm 
D) Cm

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Plutonium-241 is created through the alpha-particle bombardment of uranium-237. The target nucleus must have a mass number of 237 (since the product, Pu-241, has a mass number of 241) and a atomic number of 92 (since the product is plutonium). Only option B, 11ea7e2d_d1c0_259d_a2f7_ff4ed6813ad8_TB4940_11U, satisfies these criteria because uranium has an atomic number of 92 and a mass number of 237.

The Nuclear Transmutation Reaction That Leads to the Synthesis of Plutonium-241