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  4. An atom of mass number 15 and atomic number 7 captures an α-particle and then emits a proton. The mass number and atomic number of the resulting atom will be respectively

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Q. An atom of mass number $15$ and atomic number $7$ captures an $\alpha$-particle and then emits a proton. The mass number and atomic number of the resulting atom will be respectively

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Solution:

${ }_7 X^{15}+\underset{\text { Alpha particle }}{ {}_2He ^4} \rightarrow \underset{\text{Proton}}{{}_1 H ^1}+{ }_Z Y^A$
According to the law of conservation of charge, we get
$7+2=1+Z \Rightarrow Z=8$
According to the law of conservation of mass, we get
$15+4=1+A \Rightarrow A=18$
Hence, the resulting atom has mass number 18 and atomic number 8.