Write balanced nuclear equations for each of the following:
(a) `alpha`-emission from curium-`242`
`beta`-emission from magnesium-`28`
(c ) positron emission from xenon-`118`

Answer

The key to writing nuclear equation is to make sure that the number of nucleons is the same on both sides of the equation and that the number of elementary and nuclear charges is the same.
`(a) `_(96)^(242)Cm rarr `_(2)^(4)He+ `_(94)^(28)Pu`
(b) `_(12)^(28)Mg rarr `_(-1)^(0)e+`_(13)^(28)Al`
(c ) `_(54)^(118)Xe rarr `_(+1)^(0)e+`_(53)^(118)I`