Question
Write the complete decay equation for electron capture by in the complete notation.
Final Answer
Please see the solution video.
Solution video
OpenStax College Physics, Chapter 31, Problem 22 (Problems & Exercises)
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Video Transcript
This is College Physics Answers with Shaun Dychko. This shows electron capture by indium-106. When we look at the appendix at the end of the textbook, indium has an atomic number of 49 so there are 49 protons and that leaves 57 left over, it must be neutrons if there are a total of 106 nucleons minus 49 makes 57. So an electron is captured by the nucleus and that will neutralize one of the protons and reduce the number of protons by 1 so 49 turns into 48 and the element with atomic number 48 is cadmium and it will increase the number of neutrons by 1 because that proton after it binds with an electron will turn into a neutron so we have added 1 neutron. In order for the electron family number to be conserved, there must be an electron-neutrino emitted as well so that we have electron family number plus 1 on the left and we still have electron family number of plus 1 on the right as a result of this electron-neutrino.