Question

Ompare and contrast positrons with electrons. • Explain how positron emission works and how it causes transmutations. • Explain how electron capture works and how it causes transmutations. • Compare the transmutations caused by positron emissions and electron capture.

Answer 1

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Step-by-step explanation:

Positrons are generally called positive electrons. A positron has a charge of +1 while an electron has a charge of -1.

Positron emission involves the conversion of a proton to a neutron. An anti- neutrino is formed in the process. Positron emission leads to a decrease in atomic number of the daughter nucleus by 1 while the mass number of the daughter nucleus remain the same. Gamma rays are emitted in this process.

Electron capture involves the conversion of a proton to a neutron. This process increases the neutron/proton (N/P) ratio. Electrons in the K shell are usually captured. An electron from a higher energy level usually drops to fill the vacancy in the K shell leading to the emission of characteristic X-rays.

Generally, both positron emission and electron capture increases the N/P ratio. Electron capture only occurs when the N/P ratio is too low and the nucleus has insufficient energy for positron emission. Also, positron emission leads to the emission of gamma rays while electron capture leads to the emission of X rays.