Scandium, Sc,decays by emitting a positron.What is the nuclide that is the product of the decay?

Question

Scandium,  Sc,decays by emitting a positron.What is the nuclide that is the product of the decay?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Scandium-43 decays by emitting a positron, which is a form of beta decay. This type of decay changes a neutron into a proton while emitting a positively charged particle, the positron. The nuclide that is produced by this process will have the same atomic number as the parent nuclide, since a proton is being added to the nucleus. However, the mass number will have decreased by 1, since a neutron is being converted to a proton. Therefore, the only options that could be possible products of this decay are those with atomic number 20 and mass number 43-1=42. This is option C, 11ea83ea_6b07_7cd3_aeff_874260e181e7_TB6394_11 Ca.

Scandium, Sc,decays by Emitting a Positron