Question

Explain the nuclear reaction that takes place to convert carbon-14 to nitrogen-14

Answer 1

in nuclear reactions, two things have to be conserved: total mass, and total number of protons. When C-14 decays into N-14, we get
\[{^1}{^4}C{_6} \rightarrow {^1}{^4}N {_7}+ {^a}X{_z}\]total mass must be conserved, so

14 = 14 + a;

and total number of protons must be conserved, so

7 = 7 + z

a must = 0, and z must = -1. The particle with those properties is a beta particle, so the complete reaction is
\[{^1}{^4}C{_6} \rightarrow {^1}{^4}N{_7} + {^0}\beta{_-}{_1}\]

Answer 2

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