Chapter 9, Problem 9.23P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Identify the bombarding nucleus with which Curium-248 if bombarded yields antimony-116 and cesium-160.

$\text{C}\text{m +?}\stackrel{}{\to }\text{S}\text{b + }\text{C}\text{s }$

Concept Introduction:

During a nuclear reaction the number of protons and mass number on product and reactant sides are equal.

So, during determination of products or bombarding nucleus we just add the number of protons on reactant side and balance them with protons on product side.

Similarly, for mass number we balance the product and reactant side.