Question

Suppose an oxygen-16 nuclide transforms into a nitrogen-13 nuclide by absorbing a proton and emitting an alpha particle. complete the nuclear chemical equation below so that it describes this nuclear reaction.

Answer 1

Nuclear reaction: ¹⁶O + p⁺ → ¹³N + α (alpha particle).
Alpha decay is radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (helium nucleus) and transforms into an atom with an atomic number that is reduced by two and mass number that is reduced by four.
When oxygen-16 gain one proton, atomic mass is 17, but when lose alpha particle atomic mass reduces by four to 13.

Answer 2

Explanation:

As it is given that oxygen-16 nuclide is transforming means oxygen-16 nuclide is changing into a nitrogen-13 nuclide.

Since, it is emitting an alpha particle and an alpha particle is basically a helium nucleus and it contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Symbol of an alpha particle is $^{4}_{2}\alpha$ or $^{4}_{2}He$.

A proton has a +1 charge and it is represented by a symbol $^{1}_{1}n$.

Therefore, the complete nuclear reaction equation will be as follows.

       $^{16}_{8}O + ^{1}_{1}n \rightarrow ^{13}_{7}N + ^{4}_{2}He$