Question

The nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons (no electrons). A nucleus of a carbon‑12 isotope contains six protons and six neutrons, while a nitrogen‑14 nucleus comprises seven protons and seven neutrons. A graduate student performs a nuclear physics experiment in which she bombards nitrogen‑14 nuclei with very high speed carbon‑12 nuclei emerging from a particle accelerator. As a result of each such collision, the two nuclei disintegrate completely, and a mix of different particles are emitted, including electrons, protons, antiprotons (with electric charge −e each), positrons (with charge +e each), and various neutral particles (including neutrons and neutrinos).

For a particular collision, she detects the emitted products and find 15 protons, 2 antiprotons, 8 positrons, and 24 neutral particles. How many electrons are also emitted?

Answer 1