Chapter 6: Q57P (page 1478)

Calculate the mass defect for the $β^{+}$ decay of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ . Is this decay energetically possible? Why or why not? The atomic mass of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ is 11.011434 u.

Short Answer

Expert verified

This decay is energetically possible.

Step by step solution

Definition of β+ decay

$β^{+}$ decay can occur whenever the mass of the original neutral atom is at least two electron masses larger than that of the final atom.

Determine the daughter nucleus

The decay equation is given as:

${}_{6}^{11}C \to {}_{Z}^{A}X + {}_{1}^{0}e$

From the conservation of atomic number and the number of nucleons,

$6 = Z + 1 Z = 5 11 = A + 0 A = 11$

So, the daughter nucleus is ${}_{5}^{11}B$ with atomic mass of 11.009305 u.

Determine if the decay is energetically possible or not

$β^{+}$ decay can occur whenever the mass of the original neutral atom is at least two electron masses larger than that of the final atom.

Mass defect can be given as:

$∆ M = M ({}_{6}^{11}C) - 2 m_{e} - M ({}_{5}^{11}B)$

Plug the values,

$∆ M = 11.011434 - 2 \times 0.000548580 - 11.009305 = 1.032 \times 10^{- 3} u$

Since the mass defect is positive, the decay is energetically possible.

Thus, this decay is energetically possible.

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Calculate the mass defect for the $β^{+}$ decay of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ . Is this decay energetically possible? Why or why not? The atomic mass of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ is 11.011434 u.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of β+ decay

Determine the daughter nucleus

Determine if the decay is energetically possible or not

One App. One Place for Learning.

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Calculate the mass defect for the β+decay of C611. Is this decay energetically possible? Why or why not? The atomic mass ofC611is 11.011434 u.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of β+ decay

Determine the daughter nucleus

Determine if the decay is energetically possible or not

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Electricity and Magnetism

Linear Momentum

Dynamics

Fundamentals of Physics

Turning Points in Physics

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Calculate the mass defect for the $β^{+}$ decay of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ . Is this decay energetically possible? Why or why not? The atomic mass of ${}_{6}^{11}C$ is 11.011434 u.