Why is the Nuclear Equation Written in This Format?

[masteri]

So this may be a really dumb question but anyway i am going to ask it. In nuclear equation when we have a decay it is written like this: U --> Th + He . This means that U spites He to form Th. Am i right? So if this is the case why is it written like this? Is it not more logical to be written like : U - He --> Th , because as far as i know nuclear decay is releasing and not adding particles. So in essence i am confused because of plus(+) sign.

Thank you

 

[firavia]

well U-->Th + He means that it is decaying into 2 new elements I think it is logical .!?

 

[SpectraCat]

So this may be a really dumb question but anyway i am going to ask it. In nuclear equation when we have a decay it is written like this: U --> Th + He . This means that U spites He to form Th. Am i right? So if this is the case why is it written like this? Is it not more logical to be written like : U - He --> Th , because as far as i know nuclear decay is releasing and not adding particles. So in essence i am confused because of plus(+) sign.

Thank you

Well, it makes sense either way logically or mathematically, but the convention to write it with the original nucleus on the left and the two products on the right. I think this makes the most sense, because what happens physically is that the uranium nucleus decays into a thorium nucleus and an alpha particle (4He nucleus).

 

[ZealScience]

If it can be written as U - He --> Th, then why not U - Th --> He? In my perspective the nuclear equation shows both what is reacted and what is formed, just like other euqations. e.g. ionization equation: He --> He+ + e- , never He - e- --> He+ , though it's "removing", sounds like minus...