Question

How does electron capture work?

Answer 1

Hint: The process in which absorption of an inner atomic electron takes place through a proton rich nucleus of an electrically neutral atom. This process is named as electron capture.

Complete step by step answer:
As we know that the absorption of an inner atomic electron takes place through a proton rich nucleus of an electrically neutral atom. This process is named as electron capture. If we talk about the reaction that takes place in electron capture, then theoretically it can be explained as one of the electrons of an atom that is an incoming electron gets absorbed and the right hand side reaction will have less number of electrons as compared to the left hand side reaction.
For example:
${}_{13}^{26}Al + {e^ - } \to {}_{12}^{26}Mg + {v_e}$
Here, electrons get absorbed by aluminium atoms and decay takes place.
Similarly, other examples are:
$_{28}^{59}Ni + {e^ - } \to {}_{27}^{59}Co + {v_e}$
Electron capture is also defined as the primary decay mode for isotopes with a relative superabundance of protons in the nucleus. Electron capture is a decay which occurs with insufficient energy difference between the isotope and its prospective isobar having one less positive charge for the nuclide to decay by emitting a positron.

Note:
Electron capture can be stated as an alternative decay mode for radioactive isotopes which possess enough energy to decay by positron emission. Sometimes electron capture is considered as a type of beta decay. Due to the basic nuclear process which is done by the weak force. If we talk about the decay in nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta ray (fast energetic electron or positron) and a neutrino are emitted from an atomic nucleus. Electron capture is sometimes called inverse beta decay, though this term usually refers to the interaction of an electron antineutrino with a proton.