In about 10.72% of events, it decays to argon-40 (40Ar) by electron capture (EC), with the emission of a neutrino and then a 1.460 MeV gamma ray.

Why is potassium 42 unstable?

Radioactive Isotopes Calcium-42 occurs due to the emission of a beta particle in Potassium-42 ! This means that in potassium-42 a neutron is split into a proton and an electron. The electron is released as a Beta particle while the proton is added on to the nucleus making it no longer potassium but calcium instead!

What does potassium decay into and what is its half-life?

Potassium has three isotopes (see Potassium); potassium-40 (40K) is radioactive and decays to both calcium-40 (40Ca) and argon-40 (40Ar). The combined half-life of 40K is 1.25 billion years.

What is potassium-42 used for?

n. An artificially produced beta-emitting isotope of potassium having a half-life of 12.36 hours; it is used as a radioactive tracer in studies of potassium distribution in bodily fluids.

What element does K 42 decay into?

Potassium undergoes beta (minus) decay to produce an electron and a calcium nucleus.

Is potassium 40 radioactive?

Potassium-40 (40K) is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of the common element potassium (potassium represents about 2.4% by weight of the earths crust). The half-life of 40K is 1.248 x 109 years [1]  its origins are primordial. 40K has an atomic percent abundance of 0.0117%.

Is potassium 44 stable or unstable?

PotassiumMass NumberHalf-lifeDecay Mode41STABLE-4212.321 hoursBeta-minus Decay4322.3 hoursBeta-minus Decay4422.13 minutesBeta-minus Decay38 more rows

Does potassium spontaneously decay?

(1) All potassium atoms have stable nuclei that spontaneously decay.

Which soil is rich in potassium?

Forms of potassium. Depending on soil type, approximately 90 to 98 percent of total soil K is found in this form. The minerals feldspars and micas contain most of the K.