What are the following nuclear equations?

Question

I asked this question a couple of hours ago and got confused by all the answers, so if you know, can you carefully describe why for me? This is what i asked before...

This is in chemistry and we have been doing all sorts of molality equations and so forth and have just been given this problem and not quite sure i follow.

We are asked in question 4:

Part A
What are the six types of radioactive decay?
I found that they were...
α emission, (alpha)
β emission (beta)
γ emission (gamma)
positron emission
electron capture
spontaneous fission


But then it asks in part B of the question...

Complete the following nuclear equations
a. proton -> neutron + ?
b. neutron -> proton + ?
c. proton + ? -> neutron

am i supposed to use one of the following types of radioactive decay? thanks for the help and assistance!

Answer 1

a. Proton ===> Neutron + Positron (beta-+ decay, as C-13)

b. Neutron ===> Proton + Electron (beta- decay, as C-14

c. Proton + Electron ===> Neutron (electron capture, as Tl-201)

Answer 2

a to c describe nuclear reactions of the type alpha, beta, etc.
What you're being asked to provide is the missing particles for these reactions.

The important thing to remember is that the charge and mass must be conserved.

So for a the proton gives a neutron plus .. what? Since a proton has a +ve charge and a neutron has no charge, the additional particle must have a positive charge. Since a proton and neutron are of comparative mass, the other particle must be small. This means that it must be a positron.
Similarly neutron -> proton + electron (sums to neutral charge)
proton + electron gives neutron for the same reason.

You need to look at whether the answer needs to consider all conservation of mass (i.e. you need to mention neutrino and anti-neutrino emissions which balance the mass)