What is Positron is:

Question

Positron is:
1. _-1e⁰
2. ₊₁e⁰
3. ₁H¹
4. None of these

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : ₊₁e⁰

• Positrons are ejected when a proton is converted into a neutron. It is denoted by +1e0.
• The ejection of positron lowers the atomic number by one unit but leaves the mass number unchanged.
• When an isotope has too many neutrons, it can attain greater nuclear stability if one of the neutrons decays to protons.
• Such ejection leads to emission of a beta ray as follows: 0n1 →1H1 + -1e0.
• Thus, the number of neutrons decreases, and the number of protons increases, and hence the ratio \(n\over p\) decreases. 
• Beta ray emission occurs when the ratio \(n\over p\)is higher than that expected for stability.
• When the \(n\over p\)is too low, a nucleus deficient in neutrons tends to attain stability by converting one of its protons to a neutron.
• This is achieved by the emission of a positron or an electron capture.
• Electron Capture is not a nuclear phenomenon but positron emission is.
• Positron emission occours with light isotopes. 7N13 → 6C12 + +1e0(positron)

​Hence positron is +1e0.

• Beta particles have a charge equal to that of an electron. It is represented as -1e0.
• Ejection of a beta particle changes the atomic number by plus one but no change in mass number occurs.
• ​1H1 is a Hydrogen atom.