Question

^37 v17 Cl undergoes electron capture. What would be produced?

A. ^37 v17 Cl
B. ^37 v19 K
C. ^41 v20 Ca
D. ^33 v16 S

Answer 1

`^(37)`Cl undergoes electron capture to form ^37_16S, where one proton is transformed into a neutron, resulting in an element with one less proton, which is sulfur (S).

Step-by-step explanation:

When
`^(37)`Cl undergoes electron capture, a neutron-poor nucleus decays by capturing an inner electron which reacts with a proton to form a neutron. This process does not change the mass number but decreases the atomic number by one, because one proton is converted into a neutron. Since the mass number of Cl remains 37 (as the neutron replaces the proton), and the atomic number becomes 16, the resulting product is sulfur with 16 protons. This radioactive decay can be represented by the nuclear equation: (e- +
`^(37)`_17Cl ->
`^(37)`_16S + neutrino). Therefore, the correct answer is D.
`^(37)`_16S.