The isotopes are all stable, while is radioactive. The mode of decay for is most likely to be
A) positron decay.
B)($\alpha$ decay.)
C) ($\gamma$decay.)
D) electron capture.
E) ($\beta$ decay.)

Question

The isotopes  are all stable, while  is radioactive. The mode of decay for  is most likely to be
A) positron decay. 
B)($\alpha$ decay.) 
C) ($\gamma$decay.) 
D) electron capture. 
E) ($\beta$ decay.)

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that one of the isotopes (11eb16b2_ffa2_5377_984d_f38a6f861f39_TB7799_11) is radioactive suggests that the mode of decay for the stable isotopes is likely to be the same as that of the radioactive isotope. Of the options given, electron capture and beta decay are the most common modes of decay for isotopes that are not neutron-rich. Since electron capture involves the capture of an electron from the inner shell of the atom, it requires the presence of electron-rich elements such as copper, nickel, or chromium. None of these elements are present in the molecular formula given. Therefore, the most likely mode of decay is beta decay, where a neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton, ejecting a beta particle and an antineutrino.

The Isotopes Are All Stable, While Is Radioactive α\alphaα

The Isotopes Are All Stable, While Is Radioactive $\alpha$