In the nuclear transmutation: _4Be^9 + X -> _4Be^8 + Y, (X, Y) is (are) — Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

**Step 1: Test each reaction for Be-9 transmutation using conservation laws.** **(A) $(\gamma, n)$:** $\ce{^9_4Be + \gamma -> ^8_4Be + ^1_0n}$ - Charge: $4 + 0 = 4 + 0 = 4$ ✓ - Mass: $9 + 0 = 8 + 1 = 9$ ✓ — **Balanced** ✓ **(B) $(p, d)$:** $\ce{^9_4Be + ^1_1p -> ^8_4Be + ^2_1d}$ - Charge: $4 + 1 = 4 + 1 = 5$ ✓ - Mass: $9 + 1 = 8 + 2 = 10$ ✓ — **Balanced** ✓ **(C) $(n, 2n)$:** $\ce{^9_4Be + ^1_0n -> ^8_4Be + 2\,^1_0n}$ - Charge: $4 + 0 = 4 + 0 = 4$ ✓ - Mass: $9 + 1 = 8 + 2 = 10$ ✓ — **Balanced** ✓ **(D) $(\gamma, p)$:** $\ce{^9_4Be + \gamma -> ^8_4Be + ^1_1p}$ - Charge: $4 + 0 = 4 + 1 = 5$? But left side is 4! ✗ - This would require $\ce{^8_3Li + p}$, not $\ce{^8_4Be + p}$. Reaction D is **not balanced** with Be-8 as the product. **Answer: A, B, and C are correctly balanced transmutation reactions for Be-9.**