Confirm that charge, electron family number, and the total number of nucleons are all conserved by the rule for electron capture given in theequation \(_Z^A{X_N} + {e^ - } \to _{Z - 1}^A{Y_{N + 1}} + {v_e}\). To do this, identify the values of each before and after the capture.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The electron numbers and the nucleons numbers are conserved.

Step by step solution

01

Define Radioactivity

The spontaneous emission of radiation in the form of particles or high-energy photons as a result of a nuclear process is known as radioactivity.

02

Confirmation that the charges are preserved

The reaction we have is:

\(_Z^A{X_N} + {e^ - } \to _{Z - 1}^A{Y_{N + 1}} + {v_e}\)

The value X has a charge of + Z.

The value of e-has a charge of - 1.

The total charge prior to capture is Z - 1.

The value of Y has a charge of Z - 1.

The charge on ve is zero.

The charge following the reaction is Z - 1.

As a result, the reaction's charge is preserved.

03

Identifying the values before and after capture

The electron number of X is zero, while that of e-is one.

The electron number before the process is 1.

The number of electrons in Y is zero, but the number of electrons in ve is one.

Following the process, the electron number is 1.

The reaction's electron number is preserved.

The number of nucleons in X is A, and e- is zero.

The number of nucleons before the reaction is A.

The number of nucleons in Y is A, and ve is zero.

The nucleon number following the reaction is A.

The number of nucleons in the process is preserved.

Therefore, the electron and nucleon numbers are preserved.

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