Since before chemistry existed, alchemist tried to change lead into gold. In pra
ID: 912797 • Letter: S
Question
Since before chemistry existed, alchemist tried to change lead into gold. In practice, it turns out changing mercury into gold is easier. The lightest of the isotopes of mercury, 196Hg, can be converted into gold in a nuclear reactor by neutron capture, then decays into the only stable isotope of gold by electron capture.
a) Write the balanced equations of the Hg-to-Au transmutation.
b) If you bombard one of the heavy isotopes of mercury such as 202Hg with neutrons, however, you obtain thallium. Explain.
Explanation / Answer
a)
this is neutron capture so:
201 80 Hg+ 0 1e201 79 Au
b)
if you bombard with neutrons, the 202 80 Hg will turn excess of neutrons and electrons to protons. that is, 80 + 1 = 81 protons, which is Thallium