# When does electron capture occur instead of positron emission?

Oct 3, 2015

Electron capture occurs when the loss in mass is less than that of two electrons.

#### Explanation:

Nuclear stability depends on the neutron:proton ratio.

(from www.slideshare.net)

Nuclei that have a neutron: proton ratio that is too low can become stable by positron emission or by electron capture.

1. Positron emission

In positron emission, a proton is converted to a neutron by emitting a positron and a neutrino.

For example,

""_12^23"Mg" → ""_11^23"Na" + ""_1^0e + ν

Positron emission occurs spontaneously when the mass of the parent atom is greater than the mass of the daughter atom plus two electrons:

underbrace(m[""^"A""Z"])_color(red)("parent atom") > underbrace(m[""^"A"("Z"-1)])_color(red)("daughter atom") + underbrace(2m[""_(-1)^0e])_color(red)("2 electrons")

2. Electron capture

In electron capture, an outside electron is pulled inside the nucleus and combined with a proton to make a neutron, emitting only a neutrino.

For example,

""_92^231"U" + ""_(-1)^0e → ""_91^231"Pa" + ν

Electron capture happens most often in the heavier neutron-deficient elements where the mass change is smaller than that from positron emission.

underbrace(m[""^"A""Z"])_color(red)("parent atom") > underbrace(m[""^"A"("Z"-1)])_color(red)("daughter atom")

When the loss in mass is less than that of two electrons, positron emission cannot occur, but electron capture will still be spontaneous.