Creating an isotope of aluminum that undergoes beta plus (ß+) decay involves changing the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom. Here's how the changes occur as the isotope decays:
1. Start with an isotope of aluminum, let's say Aluminum-26 (with 13 protons and 13 neutrons).
2. During beta plus decay, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, releasing a positron (a positively charged electron) and a neutrino. This process decreases the atomic number by 1 but keeps the mass number the same.
3. In the case of Aluminum-26 undergoing beta plus decay, one of its 13 protons would convert into a neutron. This would result in a new isotope, with 12 protons (now changing it to Magnesium) and 14 neutrons.
4. The resulting isotope after the decay process is Magnesium-26. This isotope is now stable with the new proton-neutron ratio in its nucleus.
So, in summary, during beta plus decay, the isotope of aluminum loses a proton, gains a neutron, and changes into a different element (in this case, Magnesium).
