To balance the nuclear equation Al^27 + He^4 ⟶ ______ + 0/1 n, we need to ensure that the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the atomic numbers are equal on both sides of the equation.
Let's start by looking at the left side of the equation:
Al^27 + He^4
The atomic number of aluminum (Al) is 13, and the atomic number of helium (He) is 2. So the sum of the atomic numbers on the left side is 13 + 2 = 15.
The mass number of aluminum is 27, and the mass number of helium is 4. So the sum of the mass numbers on the left side is 27 + 4 = 31.
Now, let's look at the right side of the equation:
______ + 0/1 n
The atomic number of an element is represented by its symbol. Since the sum of the atomic numbers on the left side is 15, the missing species on the right side must have an atomic number of 15.
To find the mass number of the missing species, we subtract the sum of the mass numbers on the left side (31) from the sum of the mass numbers on the right side. Since the mass number of a neutron (0/1 n) is 1, we have:
Mass number of the missing species = 31 - 1 = 30.
Therefore, the balanced nuclear equation is:
Al^27 + He^4 ⟶ P^30 + 0/1 n
Where P represents the element with an atomic number of 15 and a mass number of 30.