Positron emission Vs electron capture

[Chubz0924]

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When given a question, how would you be able to differentiate between the two? are there any key words to look for ? They both basically do the same thing by decreasing the atomic # by 1. So my question is, when given a question, how would you be able to determine whether to use positron emission or electron capture.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Main difference would be (if an equation were shown) which side of the equation has the electron/positron. Without the equation being shown, I don't think you could be reasonably expected to differentiate between the two if all you were told was the initial and final product and asked what happened to it.

 

[Chubz0924]

Main difference would be (if an equation were shown) which side of the equation has the electron/positron. Without the equation being shown, I don't think you could be reasonably expected to differentiate between the two if all you were told was the initial and final product and asked what happened to it.

Yeah, that's what i'm having trouble with. Question 22 on bootcamp exam 9 asks "What type of nuclear reaction is involved when C-11 decays to B-11?"
only positron was given in the answers, emission wasn't included, but incase both were included, would it be possible to tell the difference?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Yeah, that's what i'm having trouble with. Question 22 on bootcamp exam 9 asks "What type of nuclear reaction is involved when C-11 decays to B-11?"
only positron was given in the answers, emission wasn't included, but incase both were included, would it be possible to tell the difference?

In a type of question like that, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Fortunately exams are usually pretty careful about avoiding two completely correct answer choices like that, so I wouldn't worry.