I need help...

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
The isotopic numbers (top) have to be the same on both sides, so if you have Lithium-6 and 1 neutron, then the other side has to equal 7 as well. You have Helium-4 plus an electron, so you need an isotope of three.

The bottom number (the number of protons present) must also be the same. You have three on the left, so you must have 3 on the right. Remember that the electron produces a negative number. So, if you need a total of three and you have -1 and 2, you need a 2 to balance it, right?

That bottom number is an atomic number. So, whatever the number is represents the element on the periodic chart.
So...you get

(7-4) 3

X = He

(3-(-1)-2) 2

It has to be Helium, since 2 is the atomic number (the number of protons) for Helium.

I think that is right anyway.

This is exactly what I was trying to say.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
The isotopic numbers (top) have to be the same on both sides, so if you have Lithium-6 and 1 neutron, then the other side has to equal 7 as well. You have Helium-4 plus an electron, so you need an isotope of three.

The bottom number (the number of protons present) must also be the same. You have three on the left, so you must have 3 on the right. Remember that the electron produces a negative number. So, if you need a total of three and you have -1 and 2, you need a 2 to balance it, right?

That bottom number is an atomic number. So, whatever the number is represents the element on the periodic chart.
So...you get

(7-4) 3

X = He

(3-(-1)-2) 2

It has to be Helium, since 2 is the atomic number (the number of protons) for Helium.

I think that is right anyway.

This is exactly what I was trying to say.

I like the answer Blue better.

 

[BarkerChickens]

I'm waiting for Mahonri to correct me. I am sure that I did it wrong since he and Saddina got the same answer.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
You may be right, there's a reason I don't tutor math or science. (passed geometry on extra credit, namly 5 pts a can donated to second harvest. Don't remember any of it, but I got economics down, took my babysitting $ to costco).

 

[WhiteWingedDove]

Quote:
Well Mahonri's answer is much better than the one I'm seriously considering filling in the blank with, which, by the way is not conducive to a family friendly forum..

Hmm... Seems to me I got suspended once many years ago for writing that kind of answer.

So I wasn't the only one? Good.


So, why exactly do you need to know this in Chemistry? Are you becoming an astronaut?

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
I don't know what's worse...you actually typing it, or me googling it to try and figure it out. Either way....WOW.

 

[Mahonri]

Well she's got a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer (we hope)

Guess we'll wait to see.

 

[WhiteWingedDove]

Quote:
I don't know what's worse...you actually typing it, or me googling it to try and figure it out. Either way....WOW.

I agree, go with 42, seems sensible enough.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
I think that it is more the principle of knowing and understanding the process. For example, I work in contaminated groundwater. While I can say that I NEVER use those equations, I can say that I understand how contaminants break down over time because I had to learn these reactions. Knowing that these reactions can occur with or without some catalyst is better (to me anyway) than just thinking the contaminant X is now Y because the bacteria ate it and it pooped out Y. (Though I am not a nerd enough to EVER walk around explaining this to people. I prefer it to sit in the back of my mind.

).

And...it is required to learn for most general chemistry classes.