Understanding Electron Capture
Electron capture is a type of radioactive decay where an atom's nucleus captures an inner electron, usually from the K-shell. This process transforms a proton into a neutron.
The Equation
* Reactants: Gold-191 (¹⁹¹Au) and an electron (e⁻)
* Products: The resulting element (which will have one less proton) and an electron neutrino (νₑ)
The balanced equation is:
¹⁹¹Au + e⁻ → ¹⁹¹Pt + νₑ
Explanation:
* Gold-191 (¹⁹¹Au): The starting radioactive isotope.
* Electron (e⁻): The electron captured from the atom's electron cloud.
* Platinum-191 (¹⁹¹Pt): The product of the decay, with one less proton than gold.
* Electron Neutrino (νₑ): A neutral particle emitted during the decay process.
Key Points
* Atomic Number: The atomic number of the product (platinum) is one less than the atomic number of the reactant (gold) because a proton has been converted into a neutron.
* Mass Number: The mass number remains the same because the mass of the captured electron is negligible compared to the mass of the nucleus.
* Conservation of Charge: The overall charge is balanced on both sides of the equation.
Let me know if you have any more questions about nuclear reactions!
