Identify X in the following nuclear reaction:
\( {}^{12}_{6}\mathrm{C} + {}^{1}_{1}\mathrm{H} \rightarrow X \)
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → \( {}^{13}_{7}\mathrm{N} \)
In a nuclear reaction both the mass number (total number of nucleons) and the atomic number (charge) are conserved.
\( A = 12 + 1 = 13,\qquad Z = 6 + 1 = 7 \)
The element with \( Z = 7 \) is nitrogen, so \( X = {}^{13}_{7}\mathrm{N} \).