Question

Write a nuclear equation to describe the spontaneous fission of 95 244 Am to form I-134 and Mo-107. Determine how many neutrons are produced in the reaction

Answer 1

Answer: 3 neutrons are produced in the above nuclear reaction.

Explanation:

In a nuclear reaction, the total mass and total atomic number remains the same.

The nuclear reaction for the fission of Americium-244 isotope follows:

$^{244}_{95}\textrm{Am}\rightarrow ^{134}_{53}\textrm{I}+^{107}_{42}\textrm{Mo}+Y^1_0\textrm{n}$

To calculate Y:

Total mass on reactant side = total mass on product side

$\Rightarrow 244=134+107+(Y\times 1)\\\\\Rightarrow Y=244-241=3$

Hence, 3 neutrons are produced in the above nuclear reaction.