Chapter 1, Problem 1.112CHP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The two possible pathways for this decay of given radioactive nucleus and its balanced equation has to be written.

Concept introduction:

The number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom is equal to the atomic number of that atom.  In a neutral atom the number of electrons is equal to the number of the protons.

The mass number of an atom is equal to the sum of protons and neutrons

The relation between mass number atomic number and number of protons

Positron Decay:

• Positron emission is outgoing particle has positive charge and a proton is converted into a neutron.  It decreases the atomic number.
• Positron Decay: ${}_{\text{12}}^{\text{23}}\text{Mg}\to \text{N}\text{+}\text{e}$
• In positron emission a proton is converted to a neutron and the atomic number decreases.

Electron capture is the capture of a surrounding electron by a proton in the nucleus.  The process is accompanied by the emission of g rays and results in the conversion of a proton in the nucleus into a neutron.

Electron capture: $\text{Co}\text{+}\text{e}\to \text{Fe}\text{+}\text{υ}$