Carbon-13 is stable, carbon-14 is radioactive. what type of radioactive decay is carbon-14 expected to undergo?
a) alpha
b) beta
c) positron
d) electron capture
please explain why you picked that answer.... thanks!
:)
a) alpha
b) beta
c) positron
d) electron capture
please explain why you picked that answer.... thanks!
:)
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6C12 with six neutrons is stable. 6C13 with seven neutrons is stable. 6C14 with eight neutrons is radioactive. So C-14 has too many neutrons for the protons it has. Something has to happen to bring the number of neutrons in balance with the protons. A neutron has to divide into a proton and an electron (beta particle).
6C14 ===> 7N14 + e-
Answer b)
6C14 ===> 7N14 + e-
Answer b)
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Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14.
The nucleus of Carbon -13 has 6 protons and 7 neutrons. The nucleus of Carbon -14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. The extra neutron makes the nucleus of C-14 unstable. Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14. The nucleus of Nitrogen -14 has 7 protons and 7 neutrons. This means one of the neutrons in the C-14 nucleus is converted into a proton by emitting a beta particle. A beta particle has the mass and charge as an electron.
C-14 → N-14 + β-
A neutron is actually composed of a proton and an electron. In the process called beta decay, the electron (beta particle) is released from a neutron.
n → p+ + β-
This process will only occur, if the nucleus of the daughter atom is more stable than the nucleus of the parent atom. The nucleus of N-14 is more stable than the nucleus of C-14. This is the reason that C-14 is radioactive and N-14 is not radioactive.
Nitrogen-14 is the most stable form of nitrogen, so it does not decay, without outside interference.
Go to the website below to learn how a cosmic ray can collide with an atom in the atmosphere, creating a secondary cosmic ray in the form of an energetic neutron. These energetic neutrons to collide with nitrogen atoms. When the neutron collides, a nitrogen-14 (seven protons, seven neutrons) atom turns into a carbon-14 atom (six protons, eight neutrons) and a hydrogen atom.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environ…
The net result is that one very energetic neutron kicks a proton out the nucleus of a nitrogen atom. Now, the nucleus contains six protons and eight neutrons. The atom has changed from N-14 to C-14. This happens in the atmosphere. So, the green plants absorb C-14 in the form of carbon dioxide. The carbon-14 that geologists find in ancient petrified trees is the result of this process happening many years ago.
The nucleus of Carbon -13 has 6 protons and 7 neutrons. The nucleus of Carbon -14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. The extra neutron makes the nucleus of C-14 unstable. Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14. The nucleus of Nitrogen -14 has 7 protons and 7 neutrons. This means one of the neutrons in the C-14 nucleus is converted into a proton by emitting a beta particle. A beta particle has the mass and charge as an electron.
C-14 → N-14 + β-
A neutron is actually composed of a proton and an electron. In the process called beta decay, the electron (beta particle) is released from a neutron.
n → p+ + β-
This process will only occur, if the nucleus of the daughter atom is more stable than the nucleus of the parent atom. The nucleus of N-14 is more stable than the nucleus of C-14. This is the reason that C-14 is radioactive and N-14 is not radioactive.
Nitrogen-14 is the most stable form of nitrogen, so it does not decay, without outside interference.
Go to the website below to learn how a cosmic ray can collide with an atom in the atmosphere, creating a secondary cosmic ray in the form of an energetic neutron. These energetic neutrons to collide with nitrogen atoms. When the neutron collides, a nitrogen-14 (seven protons, seven neutrons) atom turns into a carbon-14 atom (six protons, eight neutrons) and a hydrogen atom.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environ…
The net result is that one very energetic neutron kicks a proton out the nucleus of a nitrogen atom. Now, the nucleus contains six protons and eight neutrons. The atom has changed from N-14 to C-14. This happens in the atmosphere. So, the green plants absorb C-14 in the form of carbon dioxide. The carbon-14 that geologists find in ancient petrified trees is the result of this process happening many years ago.
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C14 decays through weak beta emission. It has a half life of approx 5700 years (memory somewhat foggy on exact halflife, but I know thats close).
Nitrogen captures a neutron to create C14. C14 then emits an electron and an electron antineutrino to decay back to nitrogen.
Nitrogen captures a neutron to create C14. C14 then emits an electron and an electron antineutrino to decay back to nitrogen.