Question #d3263
1 Answer
Actually, germanium-71 does not undergo beta decay.
Explanation:
The interesting thing to point out here is that germanium-71 does not undergo beta decay, it actually undergoes electron capture
When germanium-71 undergoes electron capture, its nucleus captures an electron from one of its inner energy shells, which results in the conversion of a proton to a neutron.
Consequently, the atomic number of the nuclide will decrease by
At this point, the nucleus emits an electron neutrino,
The balanced nuclear equation that describes the electron capture of germanium-71 looks like this
7132Ge+−0−1e→7131Ga+νe
Notice that you have
71+0=71→ conservation of mass
32+(−1)=31→ conservation of charge
The resulting nuclide is galium-71.
Now, in a beta decay, the nucleus of a radioactive nuclide emits a beta particle, which is another name given to an electron, and an electron antineutrino,
This time, the atomic number of the nuclide increases by
So assuming that germanium-71 undergoes beta decay, the balanced nuclear equation looks like this
7132Ge→7133As+−0−1e+¯νe
Once again, you have
71=71+0→ conservation of mass32=33+(−1)→ conservation of charge
This time, the resulting nuclide would be arsenic-33.
