In 1974 a UC Berkeley group fired an oxygen nucleus at a californium target.Given the balanced nuclear equation,what is the new nuclide? Cf + O → X + 4 n

Question

In 1974 a UC Berkeley group fired an oxygen nucleus at a californium target.Given the balanced nuclear equation,what is the new nuclide?  Cf +  O →  X + 4  n

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the balanced nuclear equation, the sum of the atomic masses and atomic numbers on both sides of the equation must be equal.

Starting with the left side of the equation: 
- Californium (Cf) has an atomic number of 98 and an atomic mass of 251. 
- Oxygen (O) has an atomic number of 8 and an atomic mass of 16.

Adding these up, we get: 
98 + 8 = 106 (atomic number total) 
251 + 16 = 267 (atomic mass total)

On the right side of the equation: 
- We know that 4 neutrons (n) are produced. 
- The new nuclide (X) has an unknown atomic number (Z) and atomic mass (A).

Therefore: 
- The atomic number total on the right side of the equation is: 106 + 0 = 106. 
- The atomic mass total on the right side of the equation is: 267 + 4A = A + 271.

To find the new nuclide, we need to look for an element that has an atomic number of 106. The only element in the answer choices with an atomic number of 106 is Seaborgium (Sg).

Therefore, the best choice is C) 11eab151_65b3_ca00_896a_c1100900a907_TB3370_11 Sg.

In 1974 a UC Berkeley Group Fired an Oxygen Nucleus