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What do we mean when we say a nucleus has undergone an electron capture process?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
You will recall that electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom (or in quantum mechanical terms, they surround the nucleus as a cloud). Under some circumstances, one of those orbiting electrons can fall into the nucleus, where it will react with a proton and convert it into a neutron. This is an electron capture process.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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What is the process of removing an electron from a stable nucleus?
ionization!
When crushing an aluminum can has it undergone a physical or chemical change?
It is a physical process.
What change will occur in the nucleus during beta decay?
There are two types of beta decay, beta- and beta+. In beta-, a neutron is converted into a proton, raising the atomic number by 1, but keeping the atomic mass number the same. In beta+, a proton is converted into a neutron, lowering the atomic number by 1, but keeping the atomic mass number the same. Both of these processes release particles and energy. In beta- an electron and an electron antineutrino are released, while in beta+ a positron and an electron neutrino are released. In addition, these interactions can leave the nucleus in an excited state. When it comes back down to ground state, a photon with energy equivalent to the energy step change is released. This is called a gamma ray.
What is it called when atomic nuclei spontaneously decay?
How the nucleus decays depends on the particular isotope. Some even decay in more than one way. One possibility is called alpha decay. In alpha decay, the nucleus emits an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons). Another possibility is beta decay, in which one of the nucleons changes from a neutron to a proton or vice versa and the nucleus will throw out a beta particle. A beta particle can be either an electron or a positron. (To conserve lepton number, the nucleus also emits an electron antineutrino or an electron neutrino at the same time.) A third case is electron capture. In this, one of the inner electrons is absorbed by the nucleus, a proton changes to a neutron, and an electron neutrino is thrown off. Heavy nuclides can undergo spontaneous fission, in which the nucleus splits into two smaller daughter particles with mass numbers of roughly 90-100 and 130-140. Often some spare neutrons are also ejected at the same time. Cluster decay is yet another mode, which happens only for nuclei which also decay via alpha decay. It's similar to alpha decay except the emitted particle is not a helium-4 nucleus but a heavier element. It's distinguished from spontaneous fission by the fact in cluster decay, only certain nuclei are emitted and they're always well under 90 amu. Other rare decay modes are possible: proton emission, neutron emission, double proton emission, double beta decay, double electron capture, double positron emission, and electron capture with positron emission. Most of these names should be self-explanatory.
When the nuclei of heavy atoms with many protons are split this process is called?
Generally this is called nuclear fission. In the special case where one of the new particles produced is a Helium-4 nucleus (2 protons, 2 neutrons) the process is radioactive decay and specifically alpha emission. (The He-4 nucleus is called an alpha particle, as it was the first such particle recognized. A beta particle is an electron emitted from the nucleus with the conversion of a neutron to a proton = beta emission.)
What is the process of removing an electron from astable nucleus?
ionization
What is the process of removing an electron from a stable nucleus?
ionization!
What nuclear decay process has a heavy isotope attracts an electron in the lower energy level into its positively charged nucleus?
K capture, a special case of inverse beta decay that doesn't emit a positron (but it does emit an electron neutrino)
Does nuclear fission require a full electron shell?
No. Nuclear fission is a process that involves the nucleus, not electron shells.
What is an unstable nucleus that starts a decay process called?
A nucleus that starts to decay is called a radioactive nucleus or atom. It decays with a known and unique half life by several processes including but not limited to beta decay, alpha decay, electron capture decay, and positron emission.
How can a nucleus which is composed of protons and neutrons eject an electron?
The weak force converts a neutron to a proton, an electron, and a neutrino; in the process called beta decay.
What process has the organism undergone?
sperm
What conditions in the nucleus are likely to result in an atom undergoing radioactive decay?
A nucleus can be inherently unstable. It can absorb an energetic photon (photoactivation) and become unstable. It can capture positrons, electrons, neutrons, and protons and become unstable. Decay processes include: # Alpha emission, a high energy 4He nucleus # Beta emission, a high energy electron # Beta+ emission / Beta capture, either a positron is emitted or an electron is captured into the nucleus (Burp!) # Gamma emission, one or more high energy photons are emitted # Neutron emission, neutrons of varying energies may be ejected in the process of a heavy nucleus decay (even tritium).
Do the nucleus capture the sun's energy?
No it is not nucleus. It is the chloroplast
What are the three main types of radioactive decay?
AlphaBetaGamma!
When a neutron decays what does it form?
Outside the nucleus, free neutrons are unstable and have a mean lifetime of 885.7±0.8 s (about 15 minutes), decaying by emission of a negative electron and antineutrino to become a proton: : n0 → p+ + e− + νe
How do you find the isotope in alpha and beta decay?
In Beta- decay, a neutron is converted into a proton, and an electron and electron anti-neutrino are emitted. The Atomic Number goes up by one, and the Atomic Mass Number stays the same. For instance, 6C14 becomes 7N14 plus one electron and one electron anti-neutrino. In Beta+ decay, a proton is converted into a neutron, and a positron and electron neutrino is emitted. The Atomic Number goes down by one, and the Atomic Mass Number stays the same. For instance, 6C11 becomes 5B11 plus one positron and one electron neutrino. Isotopes that decay by Beta+ decay also tend to decay by Electron Capture, a process where an inner K shell electron is absorbed by the nucleus, changing a proton into a neutron and emitting a neutrino. The isotope conversion process would be the same as for Beta+, above. In Alpha decay, a Helium nucleus (two protons and two neutrons) are emitted. The Atomic Number goes down by two, and the Atomic Mass Number goes down by four. For instance, 92U238 becomes 90Th234 plus one Helium nucleus
