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In positron emission, atomic number decreases by one. That's because a proton in the nucleus of the element that is about to undergo positron emission changes into a neutron. This is beta plus decay, by the way. You'll recall that the atomic number of an element, which is that element's chemical identity, is determined solely by the number of protons in the nucleus. If we "lose" a proton because it changes into a neutron, atomic number will now decrease by one. Check out the links below to related posts.

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Q: The process of positron emission results in a change to the atomic nucleus. Is that change a decrease of 1 or a decrease of 2 or an increase of 1 or is there no change?
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Why do positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on a nucleus?

The reason positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on the nucleus of an atom is because the resulting atom undergoes nuclear transformation, and the new element will have one less proton and one more neutron than the precursor element. Both of these nuclear changes are interesting, so let's look a bit more closely. In positron emission (also called beta plus decay), a proton in the nucleus of an atom "changes" into a neutron and a positron is ejected. This results in one less proton in that nucleus (naturally), and the creation of a new element. And because the proton had become a neutron, the nucleus has the same number of nucleons and a similar atomic weight. In electron capture, a nucleus with "too many" protons will actually "pull in" an electron and take it into its nucleus. This electron will "combine" with a proton, and a neutron will result. This will reduce the number of protons in the nucleus, and the creation of a new element -- just like in positron emission. Links to related questions can be found below.


How does positron emission cause nuclear transmutation?

It is in beta plus decay that we see the positron emitted from the nucleus. (An electron is emitted in beta minus decay.) Within the nucleus of an unstable atom, a proton transforms into a neutron, and a positron is ejected from the nucleus (along with a neutrino). As the nucleus now has one more proton than it did before, its atomic number just went up by one; it is another element.


The emission of a positron also results in the creation of a?

When an atomic nucleus releases a positron, it has undergone beta plus decay. This nuclear transformation event also will release a neutrino. Use the link below for more information.


What is the kind of decay that occurs when a nucleus releases a positron?

There is technically no such thing as positron decay. It's a misnomer. The nuclear decay process wherein a positron is emitted from a decaying nucleus is called positron emission or beta plus decay. A link is provided below that question and its answer.


Principle of Spontaneous emission and stimulated emission?

How the nucleus emits radiations spontaneously?

Related questions

Why do positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on a nucleus?

The reason positron emission and electron capture have the same effect on the nucleus of an atom is because the resulting atom undergoes nuclear transformation, and the new element will have one less proton and one more neutron than the precursor element. Both of these nuclear changes are interesting, so let's look a bit more closely. In positron emission (also called beta plus decay), a proton in the nucleus of an atom "changes" into a neutron and a positron is ejected. This results in one less proton in that nucleus (naturally), and the creation of a new element. And because the proton had become a neutron, the nucleus has the same number of nucleons and a similar atomic weight. In electron capture, a nucleus with "too many" protons will actually "pull in" an electron and take it into its nucleus. This electron will "combine" with a proton, and a neutron will result. This will reduce the number of protons in the nucleus, and the creation of a new element -- just like in positron emission. Links to related questions can be found below.


How does positron emission cause nuclear transmutation?

It is in beta plus decay that we see the positron emitted from the nucleus. (An electron is emitted in beta minus decay.) Within the nucleus of an unstable atom, a proton transforms into a neutron, and a positron is ejected from the nucleus (along with a neutrino). As the nucleus now has one more proton than it did before, its atomic number just went up by one; it is another element.


What is the daughter nucleus produced when 196Pb undergoes electron capture?

The beta plus decay of mercury (a positron emission event) will deliver the daughter nucleus gold.


What can be emmited from radioactive decay?

Many particles can be emitted from radioactive decay. We have Internal Conversion in which a nucleus transfers the energy to an electron which then releases it. There is also Isometric Transition which is basically the gamma ray (photon). There is the decay in which a nucleon is emitted. In this scenario we can have an alpha decay (in which an alpha particle decays), a proton emission, a neutron emission, double proton emission (two protons are emitted), spontaneous fission (the nucleus brakes down into two smaller nuclei and/or other particles) and we have the cluster decay (where the nucleus emits a smaller nucleus). There is the beta decay too. There is the Beta decay (electron and electron antineutrino are emitted), positron emission (a positron and an electron neutrino are emitted), electron capture (an electron is captured by the nucleus and a neutrino is emitted), bound state beta decay (the nucleus decays to an electron and an antineutrino but here the electron is not emitted since it is captured into a K-shell), double beta decay (two electrons and two antineutrinos are emitted), double electron capture (the nucleus absorbs two electrons and emits two neutrinos), electron capture with positron emission (an electron is absorbed and a positron is emitted along with two neutrinos), and double positron emission (in which the nucleus emits two positrons and two neutrons).


The emission of a positron also results in the creation of a?

When an atomic nucleus releases a positron, it has undergone beta plus decay. This nuclear transformation event also will release a neutrino. Use the link below for more information.


Why don't positrons annihilate the electrons in the same atom when they're released?

The positron released from an atomic nucleus in positron emission (or beta plus decay) appears with high kinetic energy. It's moving very quickly, and because it is, it has an extremely low probability of actually interacting with that atom's electrons in mutual annihilation. That positron will undergo some scattering events to dump energy, and only then will the probability of it being able to actually "combine" with an electron increase to the point where it will actually do so.


Why is the positron emitter more than beta emitter in medium nuclei?

Electrons being negatively charged will be attracted by the protons within the nucleus and so they come after spending energy against the force of attraction. But positron being positively charged will be repelled by positively charged portons. Hence the energy difference between electron and positron emission in case of beta decay


What are the 4 types of radiation and what does each type do to the nucleus?

Usually with the '4 types of radiation' it is referred to:- alpha radiation (emission of an alpha particle = a helium nucleus = 2 neutrons + 2 protons):Hence for the emitting nucleus the mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number by 2.- beta-minus radiation (emission of a beta- particle = an electron)Hence for the emitting nucleus the mass number remains the same and the atomic number increases by 1 (a neutron decays into a proton and beta- radiation)- beta-plus radiation (emission of a beta+ particle = a positron)Hence for the emitting nucleus the mass number remains the same and the atomic number decreases by 1 (under the addition of energy a proton decays into a neutron and a positron)- gamma radiation (emission of high energetic photons)The emitting nucleus doesn't change its mass number and atomic number,but it jumps from a higher energy level to a lower energy level.


What is the kind of decay that occurs when a nucleus releases a positron?

There is technically no such thing as positron decay. It's a misnomer. The nuclear decay process wherein a positron is emitted from a decaying nucleus is called positron emission or beta plus decay. A link is provided below that question and its answer.


What actually decays in radioactive decay?

The nucleus of the atom decays, and in the process, the nucleus transforms into another element, or into an isotope or isomer of the same element. In radioactive decay, the nucleus always emits some kind of particle(s). It is the high-energy emission of these particles that we call radiation. There are many different types of radioactive decay:Alpha decay results in the emission of an alpha particle (two neutrons and two protons)Beta decay results in the emission of a beta particle (an electron or a positron)Neutron decay results in the emission of a neutronProton decay results in the emission of a protonGamma decay results in the emission of a gamma particle (a photon)Neutrino decay results in the emission of a neutrino or antineutrinoIn some cases, a combination of the above emissions takes place. For example in double beta decay, a single nucleus emits two electrons and two antineutrinos in the same event.


Do neutrons orbit outside the atom?

No, neutrons do not revolve around the nucleus. Protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus of an atoms. Electrons revolve around the nucleus. Beta emission the release of electron form the nucleus. Alpha emission is the emission of helium atom.


What type of nuclear reaction results in a single nucleus undergoing a decrease in atomic number and the release of a helium nucleus?

This is emission of an alpha particle which is a helium nucleus. Thus the atomic number decreases by two and the atomic weight by four, in such a radioactive decay