Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 30 - Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity - Problems - Page 881: 23

Answer

The final masses are greater than the initial mass. Energy would not be conserved, so this reaction will not spontaneously occur.

Work Step by Step

For the decay $^{11}_{6}C\rightarrow\;^{10}_{5}B +\;^{1}_{1}p$, calculate the initial mass minus the final mass. We use hydrogen instead of the proton, to balance electrons. $$m(^{11}_{6}C)-(m(^{10}_{5}B)+m(^{1}_{1}H)) $$ $$ = 11.011434u-10.012937u-1.007825u=-0.009328u $$ The answer is negative, so the final masses are greater than the initial mass. Energy would not be conserved, so this reaction will not spontaneously occur.
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