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Answer 1 · 2017-09-16T13:53:59

Here's how to balance nuclear equations.

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

Equation 1

$_{6}^{12} C +_{6}^{12} C \to_{x}^{y} Z$ $""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_x^y"Z"$

Sum of superscripts: $12 + 12 = y$ $12 + 12 = y$ , so $y = 24$ $y = 24$ .

Sum of subscripts: $6 + 6 = x$ $6 + 6 = x$ , so $x = 12$ $x = 12$ .

$x$ $x$ is the atomic number of the element, and element 12 is magnesium.

∴ The nuclear equation is

$_{6}^{12} C +_{6}^{12} C \to_{12}^{24} Mg$ $""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^24"Mg"$

Equation 2

$_{6}^{12} C +_{6}^{12} C \to_{12}^{23} Mg +_{x}^{y} Z$ $""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_x^y"Z"$

Sum of superscripts: $12 + 12 = 23 + y$ $12 + 12 = 23 + y$ , so $y = 1$ $y = 1$ .

Sum of subscripts: $6 + 6 = 12 + x$ $6 + 6 = 12 + x$ , so $x = 0$ $x = 0$ .

The particle with zero charge and a relative mass of 1 is a neutron.

∴ The nuclear equation is

$_{6}^{12} C +_{6}^{12} C \to_{12}^{23} Mg +_{0}^{1} n$ $""_6^12"C" + ""_6^12"C" → ""_12^23"Mg" + ""_0^1"n"$