When two oxygen-16 atoms collide, one of the products is an alpha particle.?

Answer and explanation;

The equation would be;

16/8O + 16/8O --> 4/2He + 28/14Si  

Where; the upper numbers are the mass numbers of the nuclei.

-when nuclear bombardment occurs, in this case, an alpha particle is formed, the He nucleus, and the rest of the mass makes up the mass of the Si atom.  

the mass numbers must balance: 16 + 16 --> 28 + 4 = 32  

the atomic numbers must balance 8 + 8 --> 2 + 14 = 16  

Element 14 = Si

and the other product is Silicon.

Explanation:

The reaction or collision of two Oxygen-16 atoms to produce an alpha particle and silcon is known as TRANSMUTATION.

TRANSMUTATION is the conversion of one element to another, that is, the conversion of proton or neutron of a nucleus from one to another new one. Transmutation process is a nuclear reaction process. In Transmutation, higher or long-lived nuclides are converted to short-lived ones.

In 1919, Rutherford knocked out protons out of nitrogen nuclei through the use of an alpha particle.

Coming back to the question, The equation of reaction is written below;

O + O > He + Si.

oxygen atom + oxygen atom> Helium-4 + Silicon.

FROM THE PRODUCTS SIDE : Silicon has a mass number of 28 and Helium-4, a mass number of 4. Therefore, 28 + 4 = 32.

The atomic number of He= 2 and that of silicon is 14, making a total of 16.

FROM THE REACTANTS SIDE: both oxygen atoms have 16 mass number each, making a total of 32.

Both oxygen atoms have 8 Atomic numbers making a total of 16.

That means that it is balanced.