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6 Radioactivity

The nucleus of the isotope potassium-40 can occasionally capture an inner-orbit electron.

When this occurs, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, as represented by the equation:

{}^1_1\text{p} + {}^{0}_{-1}\text{e} \longrightarrow {}^1_0\text{n}

Describe how capturing an electron affects both the proton number and the mass (nucleon) number of the nucleus.

[2]

6 Radioactivity Questions

6 Radioactivity

Question bank

The nucleus of the isotope potassium-40 can occasionally capture an inner-orbit electron.

When this occurs, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, as represented by the equation:

{}^1_1\text{p} + {}^{0}_{-1}\text{e} \longrightarrow {}^1_0\text{n}

Describe how capturing an electron affects both the proton number and the mass (nucleon) number of the nucleus.

[2]