Talk:Neutron
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Vimescarrot (talk | contribs) at 21:27, March 19, 2007. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Formation of neutrons
Neutrons can be created as part of Beta decay. There are three different types of beta decay - electron emission, electron capture, and positron emission (its theoretically possible to have positron capture too, but that isn't seen in nature). The second and third types of beta decay convert a proton into a neutron. In a PET scan one of: Carbon 11, Nitrogen 13, Oxygen 15, or Fluorine 18 is used. When Carbon 11 undergoes beta decay via emission of a positron it becomes Boron 11 -- a proton has become a neutron. In situations where the atom is not energetic enough to emit a proton, you can have electron capture such as Aluminum 26 becoming Magnesium 26. --Mtur 17:26, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
- Fair enough. I'm just an A-level student, don't know much, sorry. :p Vimescarrot 17:27, 19 March 2007 (EDT)