Question

The mercury-201 nuclide radioactively decays by electron capture. Write a balanced nuclear chemical equation that describes this process.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Electron capture is a form of beta decay in which the nucleus of a radionuclide captures an electron. In the case of mercury-201, the equation below illustrates that

²⁰¹₈₀Hg + ⁰₋₁e   ⇒  ²⁰¹₇₉Au

As can be seen above, the electron capture reduces the atomic number by one unit leading to the production of a new radioisotope (because of the change in atomic number).