Help with neutron capture

Main Question or Discussion Point

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

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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.

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.

Astronuc
Staff Emeritus
"Capture of a neutron by nickel-60 produces a proton"
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.

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

Zz.

panzerliger said:
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
Is the question basically this?

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

Where you want to know what X is?