[Nescafe]

Hi,

Fluorine 18 decays to O 18 upon releasing a positron. I understand that Fluorine18 has 9electrons, 9 neutrons and 9 protons. Upon decaying it releases a proton? and an electron? gaining a neutron? I am making this assumption because Oxygen18 has 8 protons 8 electrons and 10 neutrons so in order for 18F to decay to 18O this must happen. Can someone please confirm this?

Positron is an electron of opposite charge, this is equivalent to saying a proton no?

[Arkcon]

Positron emission occurs when a nuclear proton converts into a neutron.  See here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission#Emission_mechanism  Or at any rate, that's the model that we're using to describe the process.  A positron isn't a proton, no.

[Nescafe]

Righ on. That explains the loss of proton and gain of neutron but still doesnt explain how it converts into 18O as it also needs to lose an electron going from 18F to 18O.

Nescafé.

[gippgig]

The immediate product of positron decay of ¹⁸F is a negatively charged ¹⁸O ion (8 protons, 10 neutrons, 9 electrons), but nobody worries about the extra electron - that's chemistry, not nuclear physics.

[Borek]

Don't worry about electrons, they will deal with the situation on their own

[Nescafe]

Don't worry about electrons, they will deal with the situation on their own

Haha, but but but, its all lonely.....alright thanks!