Neutrons do not usually convert to protons in a nucleus. There is a type of radioactive decay in which this happens, called beta negative decay. It happens when the nucleus is unstable from having too many neutrons. You might envision that when that happens, the strong nuclear force looses some of its capacity to hold things together, and is overpowered momentarily by the weak nuclear force as a result. An electron is emitted, and the atomic number of the atom increased because there are more protons. The mass number stays the same, but the actual mass is diminished by the mass of an electron.
Electron capture is the absorption of an electron by an atomic nucleus if that nucleus is neutron poor. An electron is captured, usually from an inner electron shell of that atom, and it will convert a proton in the nucleus into a neutron. We know that a neutron is converted into a proton and an electron in neutron decay, so it might be looked at as something of an opposite nuclear reaction where a proton and an electron combine to form a neutron.
The nucleus.
neutron
During electron capture, an electron and proton combine and are converted to a neutron.
The nucleus of a hydrogen atom is formed by a single proton.
The neutron changes into a proton and an electron
Proton and Neutron.
Protons and neutrons are present in the nucleus. Electrons are present in orbits of an atom. Where as proton are located at centre of the nucleus.
Electron capture is the absorption of an electron by an atomic nucleus if that nucleus is neutron poor. An electron is captured, usually from an inner electron shell of that atom, and it will convert a proton in the nucleus into a neutron. We know that a neutron is converted into a proton and an electron in neutron decay, so it might be looked at as something of an opposite nuclear reaction where a proton and an electron combine to form a neutron.
Proton and Neutron.
It is the neutron and proton that make up the nucleus of an atom. The only exception is Hydrogen (isotope mass number 1), having only one (single) proton in its nucleus and no neutrons. All other atoms have a nucleus that is made up of combinations of these two subatomic particles.
Proton neutron
The nucleus.
neutron
Proton neutron neutron and nucleus
A proton and a neutron combine to form a deuteron. A deuteron is the nucleus of a deuterium atom, which is an isotope of hydrogen.
A proton has slightly less mass than a neutron.