Conservation of charge in a nuclear reaction

[eneacasucci]

Conservation of charge: The sum of the charges on all the particles before and after a reaction are the same

I was considering this reaction:
n + ³ He → ³ H + p + 0,764 MeV

Making the charge balance I have:
0 + 0 (2protons + 2 electrons) → 0 (1proton + 1electron) + 1 (proton)

There is something really fundamental that I'm missing...
I've read in other references that the reaction is also written as
n + ³ He → ³ H + ¹ H + 0,764 MeV
So may it be that the product is not a proton but an atom of hydrogen 1H? (but I found this reaction in a neutron detector, that is a proportional counter that needs the ionising charged particle, so it should be a proton...)

 

[Orodruin]

Electrons are not included. These are nuclear reactions.

Also, please use superscripts where appropriate, ie, ³He rather than 3He. The latter may be misunderstood as three He.

 

[Drakkith]

We typically ignore electrons when talking about nuclear reactions, as they play virtually no part in them.

 

[eneacasucci]

I thought we considered electrons such as in nuclear decays where for example a beta- decay:
neutron $\rightarrow$ proton + electron + antineutrino
where in this case for charge conservation we count also the electron.

Can we conclude then that about charge conservation law in nuclear decays we consider the charge of the electrons while in other nuclear reactions we just consider the protons? I didn't read it anywhere so I wasn't aware about it, thank you both.

 

[eneacasucci]

Also, please use superscripts where appropriate, ie, ³He rather than 3He. The latter may be misunderstood as three He.

I agree with you but I read the LaTex Guide and I didn't find how to put the superscript, but I just noticed that it is included in the tool-bar. I'll edit it

 

[Orodruin]

neutron → proton + electron + antineutrino
where in this case for charge conservation we count also the electron.

This is different. The electron is explicitly included.

 

[mfb]

neutron → proton + electron + antineutrino

It's a new electron that is produced in the nuclear reaction here. It's relevant for the process.
In the example in post 1 the reaction does not produce or destroy an electron. The helium nucleus may or may not have electrons, we can't tell and it doesn't matter. Same for the hydrogen in the final state.

 

[eneacasucci]

It's a new electron that is produced in the nuclear reaction here. It's relevant for the process.
In the example in post 1 the reaction does not produce or destroy an electron. The helium nucleus may or may not have electrons, we can't tell and it doesn't matter. Same for the hydrogen in the final state.

OK thank you, so unless a new electron is produced, I only carry out the charge balance on nuclear charges.

 

[Orodruin]

unless a new electron is produced

… or destroyed!
Consider electron capture.