This information was retrieved from the Table of nuclides. Potassium-40 (^40K) i

Question

This information was retrieved from the Table of nuclides. Potassium-40 (^40K) is primordial radioisotope found in nature, it is the main source of argon gas in the atmosphere. Its half-life is 1.28 times 10^9 It decays by two modes, electron capture to ^40 Ar, and beta^- (negatron) decay to ^40 Ca. Write and balance the equation for the two decay reactions mentioned above. For the decay of either ^40 K to _40 Ar, or ^40 K to ^40 Ca, calculate the energy involved in the nuclear reaction, in MeV. Indicate whether the reaction is endo- or exoergic (the mass/energy conversion = 931.5 MeV/amu). Based on what you know, which one of these reactions gives the most stable product (^40 Ar or ^40 Ca). Give a short sentence to support your answer.

Explanation / Answer

Both reactions have lower binding energy for products compared to that of reactants. So, energy must be added for the reaction to occur and thus reaction is endoergic.

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