A slow neutron is absorbed by a nucleus

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

A slow neutron is absorbed by a 92235U^{235}_{92}\mathrm{U} nucleus, leading to fission into xenon and strontium fragments along with some neutrons. 92235U+01n  ⟶  54140Xe+3894Sr+x 01n^{235}_{92}\mathrm{U}+^{1}_{0}\mathrm{n}\;\longrightarrow\;^{140}_{54}\mathrm{Xe}+^{94}_{38}\mathrm{Sr}+x\,^{1}_{0}\mathrm{n} (a) Determine the value of xx so that the reaction obeys conservation of nucleon number and charge. (b) Write the fully balanced nuclear equation. (c) Calculate the total number of protons and the total number of neutrons contained in the two fission fragments together.

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