Nuclear Chemistry

Question

How does the number of protons, neutrons, and the mass number of the reactant compare with those of the products?

 

Also, how do you tell which is a reactant and which is a product?

Answer 1

The total of the mass numbers of the products and the total of the mass numbers of the reactants must be equal because of the conservation of energy.   It is also the case that the total of the atomic numbers of the products equals the total of the atomic number of the reactants must be equal.

 

The sum of the protons and neutrons of the products is also equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons of the reactants.  We cannot say anything about protons and neutrons separately because, in a nuclear reaction, protons may be converted to neutrons and vice versa.

 

In a nuclear reaction, the arrow is drawn from the reactants and points to the products.