Chapter 19, Problem 19.45SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The neutron poor species decays alpha particle or positrons or undergo electron capture should be identified.

Concept introduction: The number of a neutron can be determined by subtracting the number of protons from the atomic mass number as follows:

  $\text{Number of neutron }=\text{ Mass number }-\text{ Number of protons}$

Thus, neutron-rich species having a large number of the possible neutron which can be possible in nuclei with the lowest number of protons and hence the neutron-rich species decays beta particle to increase the number of protons and to decrease the number of the neutron.
The neutron poor species having a lower number of the possible neutron which can be possible in an isotope of nuclei with a larger number of protons or with the lower mass number and hence the neutron poor species decays alpha particle or positron to decrease the number of protons and to increase the number of the neutron.