Chapter 10, Problem 10A.14E

(a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The process in which ${}_{\text{29}}{\text{Cu}}^{\text{60}}$ undergo to reach stability and the daughter nuclei has to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Proton-rich nuclei have a low proportion of neutrons and lie below the band of stability.

These isotopes tend to decay in such a way that the atomic number is reduced. For example, proton-rich ${}_{\text{15}}{\text{P}}^{\text{29}}$ is radioactive and decays by emitting a positron, a process that converts a proton into a neutron and raises the final n/p ratio:

  ${}_{\text{15}}{\text{P}}^{\text{29}}{\stackrel{}{\to }}_{\text{14}}{\text{S}}^{\text{29}}{\text{+}}_{\text{+1}}{\text{e}}^{\text{0}}$

(b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The process in which ${}_{\text{54}}{\text{Xe}}^{\text{140}}$ undergo to reach stability and the daughter nuclei has to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Neutron-rich nuclei are nuclei with a high proportion of neutrons.  These nuclei tend to decay in such a way that the final $\text{n/p}$ ratio is closer to that found in the band of stability (black line).  For example, a ${}_{\text{6}}{\text{C}}^{\text{14}}$ nucleus can reach a lower energy by ejecting alpha particle, which reduces the n/p ratio as a result of the conversion of a neutron into a proton.

  ${}_{\text{6}}{\text{C}}^{\text{14}}{\stackrel{}{\to }}_{\text{7}}{\text{N}}^{\text{14}}{\text{+}}_{\text{-1}}{\text{e}}^{\text{0}}$