Which reaction illustrates artificial transmutation by bombardment with a neutron?

A. [tex] {}_{22}^{51} Ti \rightarrow {}_{23}^{51} V + {}_{-1}^0 \beta [/tex]
B. [tex] {}_{96}^{242} Cm \rightarrow {}_{94}^{238} Pu + {}_2^4 He [/tex]
C. [tex] {}_7^{14} N + {}_0^1 n \rightarrow {}_6^{14} C + {}_1^1 H [/tex]
D. [tex] {}_{96}^{242} Cm + {}_2^4 He \rightarrow {}_{98}^{245} Cf + {}_0^1 n [/tex]
E. [tex] {}_{21}^{46} Sc \rightarrow {}_{21}^{46} Sc + \text{energy} [/tex]



Answer :

To determine which reaction illustrates artificial transmutation by bombardment with a neutron, let's carefully analyze each reaction provided:

1. [tex]\({}_{22}^{51} \text{Ti} \rightarrow {}_{23}^{51} \text{V} + {}_{-1}^{0} \beta\)[/tex]

This reaction describes a beta decay process, where a titanium-51 nucleus transforms into vanadium-51 by emitting a beta particle ([tex]\( \beta \)[/tex]).

2. [tex]\({}_{96}^{242} \text{Cm} \rightarrow {}_{94}^{238} \text{Pu} + {}_{2}^{4} \text{He}\)[/tex]

This reaction describes alpha decay, where a curium-242 nucleus transforms into plutonium-238 by emitting an alpha particle ([tex]\( \text{He} \)[/tex]).

3. [tex]\({}_{7}^{14} \text{N} + {}_{0}^{1} \text{n} \rightarrow {}_{6}^{14} \text{C} + {}_{1}^{1} \text{H}\)[/tex]

This reaction involves nitrogen-14 being bombarded with a neutron ([tex]\( \text{n} \)[/tex]), which results in the formation of carbon-14 and a hydrogen nucleus (a proton, [tex]\( {}_{1}^{1} \text{H} \)[/tex]). This is a clear example of artificial transmutation because it involves the bombardment of a nucleus with a neutron.

4. [tex]\({}_{96}^{242} \text{Cm} + {}_{2}^{4} \text{He} \rightarrow {}_{98}^{245} \text{Cf} + {}_{0}^{1} \text{n}\)[/tex]

This reaction describes an interaction between curium-242 and an alpha particle ([tex]\( \text{He} \)[/tex]), resulting in the formation of californium-245 and a neutron ([tex]\( \text{n} \)[/tex]). While this is a transmutation reaction, it does not specifically illustrate bombardment with a neutron.

5. [tex]\({}_{21}^{46} \text{Sc} \rightarrow {}_{21}^{46} \text{Sc} +\)[/tex] energy

This reaction describes an energy emission process without any transmutation. The scandium-46 nucleus remains the same, simply releasing energy.

Upon analyzing these reactions, the reaction that illustrates artificial transmutation by bombardment with a neutron is:

[tex]\({}_{7}^{14} \text{N} + {}_{0}^{1} \text{n} \rightarrow {}_{6}^{14} \text{C} + {}_{1}^{1} \text{H}\)[/tex]

Therefore, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ 3 \][/tex]