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Besides the major types of radioactive decay, there are two others: positron emission and electron capture.
• Compare and contrast positrons with electrons.
• Explain how positron emission works and how it causes transmutations.
• Explain how electron capture works and how it causes transmutations.
• Compare the transmutations caused by positron emissions and electron capture.
To compare and contrast positrons with electrons, we need to understand their properties.
Both positrons and electrons are subatomic particles, but they have opposite charges. An electron has a negative charge, while a positron has a positive charge. They both have the same mass, which is approximately 1/1836 times the mass of a proton.
Now let's discuss how positron emission and electron capture work, and how they cause transmutations.
Positron emission occurs in certain unstable atomic nuclei, where an excess of protons is present. In this process, one of the protons in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, and a positron is emitted. This positron quickly collides with an electron, resulting in the annihilation of both particles, and the release of energy in the form of gamma radiation. This process effectively reduces the atomic number of the nucleus by one, as a proton is transformed into a neutron, resulting in a new element.
On the other hand, electron capture involves an atomic nucleus capturing one of its surrounding electrons. In this process, an electron combines with a proton in the nucleus to form a neutron. This causes a decrease in the atomic number of the nucleus by one, as a proton is transformed into a neutron. Similar to positron emission, electron capture also releases energy in the form of gamma radiation.
Now let's compare the transmutations caused by positron emissions and electron capture:
1. Positron emission results in a decrease in the atomic number of the nucleus by one, as a proton is converted into a neutron. This leads to the formation of a new element with an atomic number lower by one.
2. Electron capture also causes a decrease in the atomic number of the nucleus by one, as a proton is transformed into a neutron. Again, this leads to the formation of a new element with an atomic number lower by one.
In summary, both positron emission and electron capture involve the conversion of a proton into a neutron, resulting in a change in the atomic number of the nucleus and the formation of a new element. However, positron emission involves the emission of a positron particle, while electron capture involves the capture of an electron by the nucleus.