Understanding Positron Emission
* Positron Emission: A proton in the nucleus converts into a neutron, releasing a positron (a positively charged electron) and a neutrino.
* Atomic Number Changes: The atomic number decreases by 1 because a proton is lost.
* Mass Number Remains Constant: The mass number stays the same since a proton has essentially turned into a neutron.
The Equation
```
³¹₁₆S → ³¹₁₅P + ⁰₁e + ν
```
Explanation:
* ³¹₁₆S: Sulfur-31 (mass number 31, atomic number 16)
* ³¹₁₅P: Phosphorus-31 (mass number 31, atomic number 15)
* ⁰₁e: Positron (mass number 0, atomic number +1)
* ν: Neutrino (no charge, very small mass)
Key Points:
* The atomic number decreases from 16 to 15, indicating the change in the element from sulfur to phosphorus.
* The mass number remains constant at 31.
* The equation is balanced in terms of both atomic number and mass number.
