Beta-particle production A decay process for

Beta-particle production a decay process for radioactive nuclides in which the mass number remains constant and the atomic number changes. The net effect is to change a neutron to a proton. (21.1)... 

Te 5.10 alpha particles and 5 beta particles 7. Refer to Table 21.2 for potential radioactive decay processes. 17F and, 8F contain too many protons or too few neutrons. Electron capture or positron production are both possible decay mechanisms that increase the neu-tron-to-proton ratio. Alpha-particle production also increases the neu-tron-to-proton ratio, but it is not likely for these light nuclei. 21F contains too many neutrons or too few protons. Beta-particle production lowers the neutron-to-proton ratio, so we expect 21F to be a /3-emitter. 9. a. 2gCf + gO - fcIJSg + 4jn b. Rf 11. 6.35 X 1011 13. a. 

Beta-particle production is another common decay process. For example, the thorium-234 nuclide produces a p particle as it changes to protactinium-234. 

Each of the following nuclides is known to undergo radioactive decay by production of a beta particle. Write a balanced nuclear equation for each process. 

Positron emission occurs only when the energy difference between the parent radionuclide and the products exceeds 1.02 MeV (the energy equivalent of the sum of the masses of an electron and a positron). The atom s recoil, as for beta-particle emission, is a few electron volts. At lesser energy differences, a proton in the nucleus can be converted to a neutron by electron capture, i.e., the capture by the nucleus of an atomic electron from, most probably, an inner electron shell (see discussion below of CEs). The process of electron capture parallels positron emission and may occur in the same isotope. It is accompanied by emission of a neutrino and characteristic X rays due to the rearrangement of atomic electrons. Electron capture may also be signaled by the subsequent emission of gamma rays. Examples of these decays are given in Sections 9.3.4 and 9.3.6. 

Radioactivity is measured by detecting the products of radioactive decay processes. The most well-known instrument used for this purpose is the Geiger counter. A Geiger counter is sensitive to the products of nuclear decay, including alpha and beta particles and gamma rays. The units used to quantify radiation are the Curie or the Bec-querel, which describe the number of nuclear decays a substance undergoes per unit of time. 

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