The following equation partially explains the transmutation reaction which occurred in the beryllium. Determine the identity of X, the second product of this artificial transmutation.
In any nuclear equation, the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products. The mass numbers are shown in the upper lefthand corner. The total mass of the reactants (everything to the left of the arrow) is 13; therefore, the two products (everything to the right of the arrow) must also add up to 13. The mass of the neutron is 1, so the missing mass from the product side is 12. X must have a mass number of 12.
The same can be said of the nuclear charge. The total nuclear charge of the reactants must equal the total nuclear charge of the products. The nuclear charge is the number found at the lower lefthand side of the symbol. The total nuclear charge in the reactants is 6, so total nuclear charge of the products must also be 6. The neutron has no charge, so the +6 charge must be contained entirely in particle X. So, we have just determined that particle X has a mass number of 12 and a nuclear charge of +6. The nuclear charge identifies the element, so only carbon atoms can have 6 protons in their nucleus. The nuclear equation would be written as follows:
