Writing Nuclear Equations for Positron Emission
Write a nuclear equation for the positron emission of potassium-40.
Begin with the symbol for K-40 on the left side of the equation and the symbol for a positron on the right side.
Equalize the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the atomic numbers on both sides of the equation by writing the appropriate mass number and atomic number for the unknown daughter nuclide.
Deduce the identity of the unknown daughter nuclide from the atomic number. Since the atomic number is 18, the daughter nuclide is argon (Ar).
{}_{19}^{40}\mathrm{K}\longrightarrow{}_{y}^{x}?+ {}_{+1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}{}_{19}^{40}\mathrm{K}\longrightarrow{}_{18}^{40}?+ {}_{+1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}
{}_{19}^{40}\mathrm{K}\longrightarrow{}_{18}^{40}\mathrm{Ar}+ {}_{+1}^{~~~0}\mathrm{e}