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91Ó°ÊÓ

Beta-plus decay is AXz+YzA+e++n

a. Determine the mass threshold for beta-plus decay. That is, what is the minimum atomic mass mX for which this decay is energetically possible? Your answer will be in terms of the atomic mass mY and the electron mass me.

b. Can 13 N undergo beta-plus decay into 13 C? If so, how much energy is released in the decay?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The conversion factor of mass (u) to energy (MeV) is 931.49MeV/u

The energy released in this process is 1.1985MeV

Step by step solution

01

Given Definition

The atoms with same atomic number but different atomic mass are called isotopes. On the other hand the nuclei with same atomic mass but different atomic numbers (therefor different elements) are called isobars.

Some of the nuclei are stable and some are not. The unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay. There are three basic types of radioactive decay- alpha, gamma and beta. Beta decay undergoes radioactive decay by two mechanisms:

Beta-plus decay is AXz→Xz-4A+e++energyand the Beta-minus decay islocalid="1651151833754" AXz→Xz+1A+e-+energy.

Here, Xis the element that goes beta decay, Zis the atomic number, andAis the atomic mass. In this problem we will determine the minimum mass threshold for the beta-plus decay.

02

Subpart (a) Step 1:

In beta-plus decay a proton decays into a neutron and a positron p+→n+e+.

The positron escapes the nucleus and the daughter nucleus becomes a charged ion. So the minimum threshold mass for the beta-plus decay must have two electron mass (of positron and of electron) in addition to the mass of the daughter nucleus.

mx=my+2me

Here, the mass of the nucleus is mxmass of the daughter nucleus is my, and the mass of an electron is me-. Therefore, the energy released in beta-plus decay is,

∆E=(my-mx+2me)931.49MeV/u
Here, the conversion factor of mass (u) to energy (MeV) is931.49MeV/u.

03

SubPart (b) Step 1:

The 13Ncan undergo beta-plus decay to 13C

role="math" 13N7→C613+e++energy

The mass of 13N.13Cand an electron are respectively 13.0057386u,13.0033548uand role="math" width="92" height="20">0.0005486u

Substitute 13.0057386ufor mxand 0.0005486ufor mein equation (1)

role="math" ∆E=(0.0012866u)(931.49MeV/u)=1.1985MeV

Therefore, the energy released in this process is1.1985Mev

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