For an artificially created nuclide like , the ratio is , placing it below the zone of stability due — Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity Chemistry Question
Question
For an artificially created nuclide like ${}_{6}^{11}C$, the $n/p$ ratio is $5/6 \approx 0.833$, placing it below the zone of stability due to an excess of protons. How does this nucleus predominantly decay to achieve a stable $n/p$ ratio?
Answer: C
💡 Solution & Explanation
Nuclei lying below the stability belt have a low $n/p$ ratio (excess protons). To increase the ratio, a proton is converted into a neutron with the emission of a positron ($\beta^+$): ${}_{1}^{1}p \rightarrow {}_{0}^{1}n + {}_{+1}^{0}e$. For example, ${}_{6}^{11}C \rightarrow {}_{5}^{11}B + {}_{+1}^{0}e$.
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