# Help with neutron capture

1. Apr 27, 2006

### panzerliger

taking a set of questions and came across this one:
"Capture of a neutron by nickel-60 produces a proton and what new element or isotope ? "

I thought it was copper-61 since it goes through beta decay as indicated by the proton but supposedly it is not... please help

2. Apr 27, 2006

### ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus
If something produces a proton via a beta decay, the atomic number changes, but the MASS number does not, since you still have the same number of nucleons. So your "61" isn't correct.

Zz.

3. Apr 27, 2006

### panzerliger

yes, I know but it underwent neutron capture so its "61" and then transmuted to copper after beta decay so it stayed "61"... but Im wondering why that isint correct~ unless of course it isint beta decay at all that created the proton.

4. Apr 27, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

Sounds like an n,p reaction in which the neutron interaction results in a proton being ejected.

So A remains 60, but Z decreases by 1.

5. Apr 27, 2006

### ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus
Oh, I read it wrong. I thought one of its neutrons underwent a beta decay.

Zz.

6. Apr 27, 2006

### Norman

Is the question basically this?

$$n+^{60} Ni \rightarrow p + X$$

Where you want to know what X is?

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