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Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry
All textbooksBrown 15th EditionCh.21 - Nuclear ChemistryProblem 27
Chapter 21, Problem 27

Which statement best explains why nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles? (a) Neutrons are not a magic number particle. (b) Neutrons do not have an electrical charge. (c) Neutrons are smaller than protons or alpha particles. (d) Neutrons are attracted to the nucleus even at long distances, whereas protons and alpha particles are repelled.

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Understand the concept of nuclear transmutation, which involves changing one element into another by altering the number of protons in the nucleus.
Step 2: Recognize that neutrons, protons, and alpha particles are all subatomic particles that can be used to induce nuclear transmutations.
Step 3: Consider the role of electrical charge in nuclear reactions. Neutrons are neutral, protons are positively charged, and alpha particles (which consist of 2 protons and 2 neutrons) are also positively charged.
Step 4: Analyze how the lack of electrical charge in neutrons affects their interaction with the nucleus. Neutrons can penetrate the nucleus without being repelled by the positive charge of the protons in the nucleus.
Step 5: Compare this with protons and alpha particles, which experience electrostatic repulsion from the positively charged nucleus, making it more difficult for them to initiate nuclear transmutations.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Charge of Particles

Neutrons are electrically neutral particles, meaning they do not carry a charge. This lack of charge allows them to approach atomic nuclei without experiencing electrostatic repulsion, which is a significant barrier for charged particles like protons and alpha particles. In contrast, protons, which are positively charged, are repelled by the positively charged nucleus, making their interaction less favorable.
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Subatomic Particles

Nuclear Forces

Nuclear forces are the strong interactions that hold protons and neutrons together within an atomic nucleus. Neutrons can effectively penetrate the nucleus due to their neutral charge, allowing them to be influenced by these strong nuclear forces without the hindrance of repulsion. This makes nuclear transmutations involving neutrons more feasible compared to those involving charged particles.
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Effective Nuclear Charge

Distance and Interaction

The interaction between particles and the nucleus is influenced by distance. Neutrons can be attracted to the nucleus even from a distance due to the strong nuclear force, which operates over short ranges. In contrast, protons and alpha particles experience repulsion at greater distances due to their positive charge, making it more challenging for them to approach and interact with the nucleus effectively.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Despite the similarities in the chemical reactivity of elements in the lanthanide series, their abundances in Earth's crust vary by two orders of magnitude. This graph shows the relative abundance as a function of atomic number. Which of the following statements best explains the sawtooth variation across the series? (a) The elements with an odd atomic number lie above the belt of stability. (b) The elements with an odd atomic number lie below the belt of stability. (c) The elements with an even atomic number have a magic number of protons. (d) Pairs of protons have a special stability.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following nuclides would you expect to be radioactive: 5826Fe, 6027Co, 9241Nb, mercury-202, radium-226? Justify your choices.

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Textbook Question

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by supplying the missing particle: (b) 21H + 32He → 42He + ?

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Textbook Question

Complete and balance the following nuclear equations by supplying the missing particle: (d) 12253I → 12254Xe + ?