In the nuclear reaction
$^{38}
_{19}
K +
^{1}
_{1}
H → X + ^{38}
_{20}
Ca$, what is X?

Question

In the nuclear reaction
$^{38}
_{19}
 K + 
^{1}
_{1}
H → X + ^{38}
_{20}
 Ca$, what is X?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the given nuclear reaction, the sum of atomic numbers and mass numbers must be conserved. The atomic number on the left is 19 (K) + 1 (H) = 20, and the mass number is 38 (K) + 1 (H) = 39. On the right, the atomic number of Ca is 20, so X must have an atomic number of 0 to conserve the atomic number. The mass number of Ca is 38, so X must have a mass number of 1 to conserve the mass number. A neutron has an atomic number of 0 and a mass number of 1, making it the correct choice for X.

In the Nuclear Reaction 1938K+11H→X+2038Ca^{38}_{19} K + ^{1}_{1}H → X + ^{38}_{20} Ca1938​K+11​H→X+2038​Ca

In the Nuclear Reaction $^{38}_{19} K + ^{1}_{1}H → X + ^{38}_{20} Ca$