Question

The stable isotopes of boron are boron-10 and boron-11. Four radioactive isotopes with mass numbers 8, 9, 12, and 13 are also known. Predict possible modes of radioactive decay for the four radioactive isotopes of boron.

Short answer

Boron-8 and boron-9 are likely to undergo β+ decay, transforming a proton into a neutron and resulting in beryllium-8 and beryllium-9 isotopes, respectively. On the other hand, boron-12 and boron-13 are predicted to go through β- decay, in which a neutron is converted to a proton, forming more stable carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopes, respectively.

Step-by-step solution

Boron-8 (B-8)

Boron-8 has a mass number of 8 and five protons. This will result in having 3 neutrons. Due to the lack of neutrons and excess protons, boron-8 is likely to undergo β+ decay, in which a proton is converted to a neutron, releasing a positron and an electron neutrino. This will lead to the formation of a more stable beryllium-8 isotopes.

Boron-9 (B-9)

Boron-9 has a mass number of 9 and five protons, resulting in a total of 4 neutrons. Comparing this to the more stable boron-10 isotope, which has an equal number of protons and neutrons. Boron-9 is likely to undergo β+ decay, converting a proton into a neutron and resulting in a more stable beryllium-9 isotope. This decay process involves the release of a positron and an electron neutrino as well.

Boron-12 (B-12)

Boron-12 has a mass number of 12 and five protons. It has 7 neutrons. Compared to the stable boron-11 isotope which has 6, boron-12 has an extra neutron. Boron-12 is predicted to go through β- decay, in which a neutron is converted to a proton. This decay will release an electron and an electron antineutrino and form a more stable carbon-12 isotope.

Boron-13 (B-13)

Boron-13 has a mass number of 13 and five protons, resulting in 8 neutrons. Due to the excess neutrons compared to stable boron isotopes, boron-13 will likely go through β- decay, transforming a neutron into a proton. β- decay of boron-13 releases an electron and an electron antineutrino, resulting in the formation of a more stable carbon-13 isotope. In summary, boron-8 and boron-9 are likely to undergo β+ decay to form more stable isotopes, while boron-12 and boron-13 will go through β- decay to reach greater stability.

Key concepts

Boron Isotopes

Boron is an element that possesses several isotopes, both stable and radioactive. The stable isotopes you might be familiar with are boron-10 and boron-11. These isotopes have balanced numbers of protons and neutrons that make them energetically stable. However, boron also has unstable, radioactive isotopes, such as boron-8, boron-9, boron-12, and boron-13. These isotopes deviate from stability often due to imbalances in their subatomic particles, leading them to undergo radioactive decay to reach a more stable state. In general:

• Boron-8 and boron-9 are positioned with an excess of protons compared to neutrons.
• Boron-12 and boron-13 have more neutrons than protons, making them unstable.

By understanding the composition of different isotopes, scientists can predict which decay process an isotope might undergo in the pursuit of achieving stability.

Positron Emission

Positron emission is a type of radioactive decay known as beta-plus (β+) decay. During this process, a proton in the nucleus of an atom is transformed into a neutron. Consequently, a positron and a neutrino are emitted from the atom. You can visualize a positron as the positive counterpart of an electron. This form of decay is common in isotopes like boron-8 and boron-9, which have a high proton-to-neutron ratio.
Positron emission is significant because:

• It allows an atom with too many protons to become more stable by converting a proton into a neutron.
• It results in the emission of particles (positrons and neutrinos) that have practical applications in medicine and physics, such as in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.

In the case of boron isotopes, those with fewer neutrons compared to protons often undergo positron emission to adjust this ratio and achieve greater nuclear stability.

Beta Decay

Beta decay is a broad category of radioactive decay, consisting of two main types: beta-minus (β-) and beta-plus (β+) decay. During beta decay, a neutron in the atom's nucleus is transformed into a proton or vice versa, accompanied by the emission of particles and energy.

• Beta-minus decay occurs in isotopes with more neutrons, like boron-12 and boron-13. A neutron converts into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino are emitted, reducing the neutron count.
• Beta-plus decay, as previously discussed, involves proton conversion to a neutron, emitting a positron and a neutrino.

The type of beta decay an isotope undergoes is largely determined by its initial neutron-to-proton ratio. Isotopes with an imbalance in this ratio will undergo beta decay to reach a balanced and more stable state.

Neutron-to-Proton Ratio

The neutron-to-proton ratio (N/P ratio) is crucial in determining the stability of an atomic nucleus. It refers to the ratio of the number of neutrons (N) to the number of protons (P) in the nucleus of an isotope. This ratio is a key factor in deciding whether an isotope will exist in a stable or radioactive state.

• Stable isotopes often have a balanced N/P ratio, allowing their nuclei to remain intact without releasing particles or energy.
• Radioactive isotopes have an imbalanced N/P ratio, which drives them to undergo radioactive decay, seeking stability.

Isotopes with a high N/P ratio may favor beta-minus decay, while those with a low ratio might undergo beta-plus decay or positron emission. Understanding an isotope's N/P ratio allows scientists to predict its decay path and a potential transformation into a more stable element or isotope.