Answer:
Transmutation is the conversion of an atom of one element into an atom of a different element through nuclear changes.
An alpha particle is a particle composed of 2 protons and 3 neutrons. It results from transmutation because of the change in protons in a large nucleus.
A chemical equation is balanced accord to the number of atoms of each element before and after the change. This is also shows the Law of Conservation of Matter.
A nuclear equation is balanced according to mass number and charge (atomic number). These equations can’t be balanced like chemical equations because the identities of the atoms can change. On the left of equation, the top number is the atomic mass and the bottom number is the atomic number. Take note that if you add the atomic mass (top number), you’ll get the the atomic mass of of the atom pre-transmutation. Same applies with atomic number. This shows a balanced nuclear equation.
The atomic number is the number of protons in a nucleus. The mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in a nucleus. Electrons have very small masses, so they are not accounted in atomic mass.
