IChO 2003 · Theory problem 10

Particles emitted in nuclear reactions

Identify particle X in each of the following nuclear reactions:

a)

Figure 1

alpha ( ), beta ( ), gamma ( ), neutron ( )

b)

Figure 2

alpha ( ), beta ( ), gamma ( ), neutron ( )

c)

Figure 3

alpha ( ), beta ( ), gamma ( ), neutron ( )

d)

Figure 4

alpha ( ), beta ( ), gamma ( ), neutron ( )

e)

Figure 5

alpha ( ), beta ( ), gamma ( ), neutron ( )

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • a) Alpha particle, \(\alpha\): a helium-4 nucleus, \(\ce{^{4}_{2}He}\), equivalent to the helium-4 dication [4He+2]. Mark alpha.
  • b) Neutron, \(\ce{^{1}_{0}n}\). Mark neutron.
  • c) Beta-minus particle, \(\beta^-\): an electron, \(\ce{^{0}_{-1}e}\). Mark beta.
  • d) Gamma photon, \(\gamma\). Mark gamma.
  • e) Gamma photon, \(\gamma\). Mark gamma.

Solution

Nuclear equations conserve total mass number \(A\) and electric charge. Thus, the sums of the superscripts and of the subscripts must each be equal on both sides. For an emitted electron, the subscript is \(-1\), representing its charge in units of the elementary charge.

a)

The missing particle has \[ A_X=68+1-65=4,\qquad Z_X=30+0-28=2. \] These values identify a helium-4 nucleus, an alpha particle: \[ \ce{^{68}_{30}Zn + ^{1}_{0}n -> ^{65}_{28}Ni + ^{4}_{2}He}. \]

b)

The missing particle has \[ A_X=130+2-131=1,\qquad Z_X=52+1-53=0. \] A particle with mass number \(1\) and no electric charge is a neutron: \[ \ce{^{130}_{52}Te + ^{2}_{1}H -> ^{131}_{53}I + ^{1}_{0}n}. \]

c)

The missing particle has \[ A_X=214-214=0,\qquad Z_X=82-83=-1. \] It is an electron, corresponding to beta-minus emission: \[ \ce{^{214}_{82}Pb -> ^{214}_{83}Bi + ^{0}_{-1}e}. \] The mass number remains unchanged while the nuclear charge increases by one: a neutron in the nucleus converts into a proton.

The equation above follows the problem’s abbreviated notation. Physically, beta-minus decay also emits an electron antineutrino: \[ \ce{^{214}_{82}Pb -> ^{214}_{83}Bi + ^{0}_{-1}e} +\bar{\nu}_e. \] The antineutrino has zero electric charge and zero mass number, so it does not alter the identification of \(X\) as the beta particle.

d)

The missing particle has \[ A_X=23+1-24=0,\qquad Z_X=11+0-11=0. \] Among the listed choices, this identifies a gamma photon. Neutron capture produces an excited sodium-24 nucleus, which releases excitation energy as gamma radiation: \[ \ce{^{23}_{11}Na + ^{1}_{0}n -> ^{24}_{11}Na + ^{0}_{0}\gamma}. \]

e)

The missing particle has \[ A_X=19+1-20=0,\qquad Z_X=9+0-9=0. \] Again, the appropriate listed particle is a gamma photon, emitted as the fluorine-20 nucleus releases excitation energy following neutron capture: \[ \ce{^{19}_{9}F + ^{1}_{0}n -> ^{20}_{9}F + ^{0}_{0}\gamma}. \]

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.