Question

a neutron strikes an atom of uranium - 235 to start a fission reaction. a student expresses this situation as 0 1n+92 235u. why the expression is incorrect? (1 point) a neutron should be expressed as 0 1n, not 1 0n. the atomic number for uranium - 235 is in the wrong location. the mass number for uranium - 235 is in the wrong location. a neutron should be expressed as 1 1h, not 1 0n.

Explanation:

The correct symbol for a neutron is \(_{0}^{1}n\), where the bottom - left number (atomic number) is 0 as neutrons have no charge, and the top - left number (mass number) is 1 as the mass of a neutron is approximately 1 atomic mass unit. Uranium - 235 has an atomic number of 92 and mass number of 235. The first option about the neutron symbol is wrong as \(_{1}^{1}H\) is a hydrogen atom, not a neutron. The mass number and atomic number for uranium - 235 are fixed and correct values, so the statements about them being in the wrong location are incorrect.

Answer:

A neutron should be expressed as \(_{0}^{1}n\), not \(_{1}^{1}H\).