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Chapter 18: Problem 31

What type of radiation is emitted in the decay described by the following equation? $$_{19}^{43} \mathrm{K} \rightarrow_{20}^{43} \mathrm{Ca}+?$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
The type of radiation emitted in this decay is beta radiation.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Initial and Final Particles

The initial particle is an atom of Potassium-43, with an atomic number of 19 and a mass number of 43. After the nuclear reaction, we obtain an atom of Calcium-43, with an atomic number of 20 and mass number of 43. There is an unaccounted for particle depicted by the question mark in the reaction.
02

Assess the Change in Atomic and Mass Numbers

The atomic number has increased by one (from 19 to 20) in the reaction while the mass number remains unchanged (still 43). Therefore, the unaccounted for particle must have an atomic number of -1 and a mass number of 0, to satisfy the law of conservation of mass and charge in nuclear reactions.
03

Identify the Radiation

A particle with an atomic number of -1 and mass number of 0 is an electron, also known as a beta particle (\(_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}\)). The process of a neutron in the nucleus transforming into a proton and an electron is called beta minus decay, which is a type of radioactive decay. Therefore, the missing particle in the reaction is a beta particle, indicating that the type of radiation emitted in this decay is beta radiation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The half-life of tritium, \(_{1}^{3} \mathrm{H},\) is 12.3 \(\mathrm{y} .\) How long will it take for seven-eighths of the sample to decay?

Study the graph below, and answer the questions that follow. For help in interpreting graphs, see Appendix \(B,\) "Study Skills for Chemistry." Calculate the \(N / Z\) number for a nucleus \(\mathrm{A}\) that has 70 neutrons and 50 protons.

Calculating the Amount of Radioactive Material The graphing calculator can run a program that graphs the relationship between the amount of radioactive material and elapsed time. Given the half-life of the radioactive material and the initial amount of material in grams, you will graph the relationship between the amount of radioactive material and the elapsed time. Then, with the elapsed time, you will trace the graph to calculate the amount of radioactive material. Go to Appendix C. If you are using a TI-83 Plus, you can download the program RADIOACT and run the application as directed. If you are using another calculator, your teacher will provide you with key-strokes and data sets to use. After you have run the program, answer these questions. a. Determine the amount of neptunium-235 left after 2.0 years, given the half- life of neptunium-235 is 1.08 years and the initial amount was 8.00 g. b. Determine the amount of neptunium-235 left after 5.0 years, given the half- life of neptunium-235 is 1.08 years and the initial amount was 8.00 g. c. Determine the amount of uranium-232 left after 100 years, given the half- life of uranium-232 is 69 years and the initial amount was 10.0 g.

Write the nuclear equation for the release of a positron by \(_{54}^{117} \mathrm{Xe} .\)

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