Question

What is an example of a positron decay practice problem?

Answer 1

Hint : The positron is a subatomic particle that has the same mass as an electron and a numerically equivalent but positive charge.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
There are two things to keep in mind about positron decay:
1.A positron and a neutrino are emitted.
2.The mass number remains constant although the atomic number falls by one.
An example of a positron decay equation is as follows:
Magnesium-\[23\] is a chemical element with \[12\] protons and \[11\] neutrons. The ratio of neutrons to protons is\[11:12\], or\[0.92:1\]. To form sodium-\[23\], it undergoes positron emission.
\[_{12}^{23}Mg \to _{11}^{23}Na + _1^0e + _0^0v\]
 There are \[12\] neutrons and \[11\] protons in\[_{11}^{23}Na\]. The neutron:proton ratio of sodium-\[23\] is \[12:11\] = \[1.09:1\], indicating that the nucleus is stable.
When a proton in a radioactive nucleus decays into a neutron, it emits a positron and an electron neutrino.
Positrons (\[{\beta ^ + }\]) are a type of beta particle. The \[_1^0e\] is often used to represent a positron. An electron neutrino is denoted by the letter\[{v_e}\]. When the neutron-proton ratio is less than\[1:1\], or when there are too many protons, most nuclei become unstable. They will decompose in order to restore the equilibrium.

Note :
Nuclear transmutation occurs as a consequence of positron decay, which transforms an atom of one chemical element into an atom of a chemical element with a lower atomic number by one unit. When a neutron transforms into a proton, the nucleus emits an electron and an antineutrino, which is known as beta minus decay (\[{\beta ^ - }\]decay).