Chapter 18.2, Problem 18.2E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Balanced nuclear equation for positron emission of aluminium-26 and electron capture of alumninium-26 has to be written.

Concept Introduction:

Nuclear reaction can be represented in short form as nuclear equation.  This is different from chemical equation in the sense that nuclear equation considers the mass number and atomic number of the element.  Balanced nuclear equation is the one that has the same mass number balance and atomic number balance equal on both sides of equation.

Positron emission is the one where a positron is emitted resulting in formation of nucleus that has no change in mass number but atomic number is reduced by 1.

Electron capture is the one where the electron is captured by the nuclei resulting in the formation of nucleus that has no change in mass number but atomic number is reduced by 1.