Question

Which statement best explains why nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles? \begin{equation} \begin{array}{l}{\text { (a) Neutrons are not a magic number particle. }} \\\ {\text { (b) Neutrons do not have an electrical charge. }} \\ {\text { (c) Neutrons are smaller than protons or alpha particles. }} \\ {\text { (d) Neutrons are attracted to the nucleus even at long distances,}} \\ \quad {\text { whereas protons and alpha particles are repelled. }}\end{array} \end{equation}

Short answer

The best explanation for why nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles is statement (b): "Neutrons do not have an electrical charge." This allows neutrons to approach and interact with atomic nuclei without being repelled by electrostatic repulsion.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluating statement (a)

Statement (a) says, "Neutrons are not a magic number particle." This statement is not very relevant to the ease of accomplishing nuclear transmutations. Magic numbers refer to specific numbers of nucleons in a nucleus, which lead to particularly stable configurations. This property doesn't provide a convincing explanation for why nuclear transmutations involving neutrons would be easier.

Evaluating statement (b)

Statement (b) says, "Neutrons do not have an electrical charge." This statement is correct, as neutrons have no electrical charge, while protons have a positive charge and alpha particles have a positive charge as well. The absence of electrical charge means that neutrons are not affected by the electrostatic repulsion from the positively charged nucleus. This seems like a good explanation for the ease of accomplishing nuclear transmutations involving neutrons.

Evaluating statement (c)

Statement (c) says, "Neutrons are smaller than protons or alpha particles." This statement is incorrect, as neutrons and protons are roughly the same size, and alpha particles are made of two protons and two neutrons, making them larger than either of the individual nucleons. This statement does not provide a convincing explanation for the ease of nuclear transmutations involving neutrons.

Evaluating statement (d)

Statement (d) says, "Neutrons are attracted to the nucleus even at long distances, whereas protons and alpha particles are repelled." This statement is deceiving. While it is true that neutrons can be attracted to the nucleus through the strong nuclear force, this force is effective only at very short distances. The lack of electrical charge is the main reason for overcoming electrostatic repulsion, and this effect is already mentioned in statement (b).

Conclusion

The best answer is statement (b), as it explains that neutrons, not having an electrical charge, can easily approach and interact with atomic nuclei without being repelled by the electrostatic force from the positively charged nucleus. Therefore, nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles.

Key concepts

Neutrons

Neutrons are fundamental particles in atomic nuclei, playing a vital role in nuclear stability. Unlike protons and electrons, neutrons carry no electrical charge. This neutrality makes them quite unique when it comes to nuclear reactions. In nuclear transmutations, where one element changes into another, the absence of electrical charge allows neutrons to approach atomic nuclei without encountering the repulsive electrostatic forces that charged particles like protons experience. Additionally, neutrons are similar in size to protons, but since they do not repel from the positive charge of an atomic nucleus, they can interact more freely with it. This freedom makes many nuclear reactions involving neutrons easier to achieve compared to those that involve protons.

Protons

Protons are positively charged particles found within atomic nuclei. They, along with neutrons, make up almost all of an atom's mass. The positive charge of protons plays a significant role in the structure and behavior of an atom. In nuclear physics, this charge affects how protons interact in nuclear transmutation processes. The repulsive electrostatic force between positively charged protons and atomic nuclei can make certain nuclear reactions challenging. However, the strong nuclear force binds protons together within the nucleus, overcoming this repulsion at short distances. Despite this strong force, the need to overcome electrostatic repulsion makes nuclear reactions involving protons less straightforward than those involving neutral neutrons.

Electrical Charge

Electrical charge is a fundamental property of matter, influencing how particles interact with each other. In the realm of nuclear physics, the electrical charge of a particle dictates its behavior in a nuclear environment. Particles like protons and alpha particles possess positive electrical charges, leading to their repulsion from the equally positively charged atomic nucleus. This repulsion is significant in nuclear transmutation, where charged particles must expend extra energy to overcome these forces. On the other hand, neutrons, with their lack of electrical charge, can slip past this barrier of repulsion, making them excellent candidates for initiating nuclear transmutations.

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics is the field of science focused on the constituents and interactions of atomic nuclei. It plays a crucial role in understanding nuclear stability, reactions, and isotopes. A key area of nuclear physics is nuclear transmutation, the conversion of one element into another. This process can occur naturally, such as in radioactive decay, or artificially in particle accelerators. Understanding how particles like neutrons and protons behave within the nucleus is essential for grasping nuclear physics concepts. It explains phenomena ranging from nuclear fission, used in nuclear power plants, to nuclear fusion, which powers the sun. Additionally, mastering the principles of nuclear physics can offer insights into the fundamental forces of nature.