A neutron strikes a plutonium-239 nucleus, starting a fission reaction. The products are a strontium-96 nucleus, a barium-140 nucleus, and some neutrons. How many neutrons are in the products of the reaction?(1 point)
Responses
three
three
one
one
two
two
four
The correct answer is two.
The correct answer is four.
To determine the number of neutrons in the products of the reaction, we need to consider the neutron balance in nuclear reactions.
In a typical fission reaction, a single neutron strikes a nucleus, causing it to split into smaller fragments and releasing additional neutrons. These neutrons can then go on to cause further fissions in a chain reaction.
In the given reaction, a neutron strikes a plutonium-239 nucleus. Plutonium-239 has 94 protons and 145 neutrons. After the fission, the products are a strontium-96 nucleus and a barium-140 nucleus.
To find the number of neutrons in the products, we need to calculate the difference in neutron counts between the reactant and the products:
Initial neutron count = neutron count in plutonium-239 = 145
Neutron count in strontium-96 = 96
Neutron count in barium-140 = 140
Total neutron count in the products = neutron count in strontium-96 + neutron count in barium-140 = 96 + 140 = 236
So, there are a total of 236 neutrons in the products of the reaction.