Difference between revisions of "Electron Capture"
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*'''Electron capture''' helps to achieve a more stable [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] by reducing [[proton]] number. | *'''Electron capture''' helps to achieve a more stable [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] by reducing [[proton]] number. | ||
===Examples=== | ===Examples=== | ||
| − | '''Electron capture''' occurs in [[Beryllium-7]] to form [[Lithium-7]]. | + | *'''Electron capture''' occurs in [[Beryllium-7]] to form [[Lithium-7]]. |
| + | *During the the [[Weak Nuclear Interaction|weak interaction]] by which '''electron capture''' occurs several quantities can be shown to be conserved: | ||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | |+<math>p + e^- \rightarrow n + \nu_e</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:150px; text-align:center;" | | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>p</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>e^-</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>\rightarrow</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>n</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>\nu_e</math> | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:150px; text-align:center;" |[[Conservation of Charge|Charge]] | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+1</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>-1</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>=</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:150px; text-align:center;" |[[Conservation of Baryon Number|Baryon Number]] | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+1</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>=</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+1</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:150px; text-align:center;" |[[Conservation of Lepton Number|Lepton Number]] | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+1</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>=</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+1</math> | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:150px; text-align:center;" |[[Conservation of Strangeness|Strangeness]] | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>=</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>+</math> | ||
| + | | style="height:20px; width:50px; text-align:center;" |<math>0</math> | ||
| + | |} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:49, 30 May 2024
Key Stage 5
This is a Feynman diagram showing Electron capture due to the weak interaction in which a proton captures an electron to become a neutron.
Meaning
Electron capture is a process in which a proton-rich nucleus absorbs an inner-shell electron, causing a proton to transmute into a neutron and emitting a neutrino.
About Electron Capture
- Electron capture typically occurs in proton-rich isotopes.
- The captured electron combines with a proton to form a neutron and an electron neutrino (νe).
- Electron capture reduces the atomic number by one while the mass number remains the same.
- Electron capture is often followed by the emission of X-rays as electrons from higher energy levels fall into the lower energy vacancy.
- Electron capture helps to achieve a more stable nucleus by reducing proton number.
Examples
- Electron capture occurs in Beryllium-7 to form Lithium-7.
- During the the weak interaction by which electron capture occurs several quantities can be shown to be conserved:
| \(p\) | \(+\) | \(e^-\) | \(\rightarrow\) | \(n\) | \(+\) | \(\nu_e\) | |
| Charge | \(+1\) | \(+\) | \(-1\) | \(=\) | \(0\) | \(+\) | \(0\) |
| Baryon Number | \(+1\) | \(+\) | \(0\) | \(=\) | \(+1\) | \(+\) | \(0\) |
| Lepton Number | \(0\) | \(+\) | \(+1\) | \(=\) | \(0\) | \(+\) | \(+1\) |
| Strangeness | \(0\) | \(+\) | \(0\) | \(=\) | \(0\) | \(+\) | \(0\) |