A radioisotope has a neutron/proton ratio which is too low. Which of the following processes will not occur for such a nucleus?
No choices?
A-alpha emission
B-Positron emission
C-electron capture
D-beta emission
To increase the N/P ratio, the nucleus can do A, B, or C. A is the most common.
To determine which of the following processes will not occur for a nucleus with a low neutron/proton ratio, we first need to understand the concept of neutron/proton ratio and its effect on nuclear stability.
The neutron/proton ratio, also known as the N/Z ratio, is a measure of the number of neutrons (N) to the number of protons (Z) in an atomic nucleus. The stability of a nucleus depends on maintaining a balance between the strong nuclear force, which holds the protons and neutrons together, and the electrostatic repulsion between the protons.
When the neutron/proton ratio is low, meaning there are relatively fewer neutrons compared to protons, the nucleus becomes unstable due to excessive electrostatic repulsion between the protons. To achieve a more stable state, several processes can occur, including:
1. Beta-minus decay: In this process, a neutron within an unstable nucleus is converted into a proton, while emitting an electron (beta particle) and an antineutrino. This helps increase the neutron/proton ratio, making the nucleus more stable.
2. Electron capture: This occurs when an electron from the inner shell is captured by a proton in the nucleus, resulting in the conversion of a proton into a neutron. Like beta-minus decay, electron capture helps increase the neutron/proton ratio and enhance nuclear stability.
However, one process that does not occur in a nucleus with a low neutron/proton ratio is:
3. Neutron emission: Neutron emission involves the ejection of a neutron from the nucleus. In nuclei with a low neutron/proton ratio, there are already a fewer number of neutrons. Therefore, the nucleus is unlikely to emit a neutron to achieve stability since it requires the conversion of a proton to a neutron.
To summarize, a nucleus with a low neutron/proton ratio will not undergo neutron emission because it already has a deficiency of neutrons, and emitting another neutron would further destabilize the nucleus.