What happens to an atomic nucleus when a positron is produced?

Answer 1

There are a handful of elements that undergo positron decay. Positron decay, called positron emission or beta decay (beta plus decay) happens in carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, fluorine-18, potassium-40 and iodine-121. Let's look at what's happening. In the nucleus of these isotopes, the weak force mediates the conversion of a proton into a neutron, a positron and a neutrino, and also a photon or gamma ray. In the case of carbon-11, its decay scheme will look like this: 11C → 11B + e+ + νe + 0.45 MeV The carbon-11 atom is converted into a boron-11 atom, a positron (e+), a nuetrino (ve) and the 0.45 MeV gamma ray. (The MeV is a million electron-volts.) The new element, that new atom of boron, recoils a bit from the event, and the positron and the neutrino come out at high speed (at a high kinetic energy). The gamma ray will be moving at the speed of light (for the medium through which it is passing). You'll note that since a proton in the nucleus was converted into a neutron, the atomic number changes. It goes down one. A new element forms, as was seen in this illustration. Oh, and let's not forget that since the number of protons in the nucleus went down by one, one of the electrons in the electron cloud will no longer be "held" there. It will be released and will wander off. Links can be found below for more information.

Answer 2

A positron is an antielectron, and it is produced in beta plus decay when a proton in the nucleus of an atom undergoes a change and becomes a neutron. An up quark in the proton transforms into a down quark through the mediation of the weak interaction or weak force. The proton then becomes a neutron and the positron produced is ejected from the nucleus along with a neutrino. This tranforms the atom from one element into another element because the proton count has gone down by one. Use the links below to learn more.

Answer 3

An element is "radioactive" when it decays, and it gives off radiation, which consists of particles and energy. These can include alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (electrons and positrons), gamma rays, x-rays, and neutrinos. As a result of these emissions, the mass of the atoms drops, and where the number of protons is reduced, the element becomes a different element entirely.

Radioactivity is basically caused by the instability of very large nuclei -- an imbalance between protons and neutrons.

Answer 4

When alpha particle is radiated, the decay particle must be derived from the Helium atom. This process will decrease the number of protons and neutrons.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

The unstable atom will usually emit an alpha particle, a beta particle, or energy (gamma radiation), and a different type of atom will remain behind.