- #1
QuantumDefect
- 64
- 0
Hi everyone,
A couple days ago in chemistry we talked about nuclear chemistry. This of course is about halflifes, different types of decay, ect. I was surprised when I learned that an electron and a proton combine to create a neutron (electron capture). Now a couple days ago I was reading these forums, someone said an electron can get really close to the nucleus but something happens to the electron so it doesn't fly into the nucleus. Can someone tell me why this decay can happen? and why it creates a neutron? I know neutrons are nuetral particles but the thing that I am wondering is if a proton, made up of two up and one down quark, combines with an electron to create a neutron that has two down quarks and one up quark. Does one of the up quarks combine with an electron to create a down quark? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I have yet to take the Quantum Mechanics class required for my major, but to me this is a question that won't stop bugging me. Thank you guys for the replies.
A couple days ago in chemistry we talked about nuclear chemistry. This of course is about halflifes, different types of decay, ect. I was surprised when I learned that an electron and a proton combine to create a neutron (electron capture). Now a couple days ago I was reading these forums, someone said an electron can get really close to the nucleus but something happens to the electron so it doesn't fly into the nucleus. Can someone tell me why this decay can happen? and why it creates a neutron? I know neutrons are nuetral particles but the thing that I am wondering is if a proton, made up of two up and one down quark, combines with an electron to create a neutron that has two down quarks and one up quark. Does one of the up quarks combine with an electron to create a down quark? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I have yet to take the Quantum Mechanics class required for my major, but to me this is a question that won't stop bugging me. Thank you guys for the replies.