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.

How does potassium-40 decay?

The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years, and it decays to calcium-40 by emitting a beta particle with no attendant gamma radiation (89% of the time) and to the gas argon-40 by electron capture with emission of an energetic gamma ray (11% of the time).

Why is potassium-40 unstable?

Its mass energy (or internal energy), however, is actually greater than either of its neighbours – calcium 40 and argon 40. This difference is enough to make potassium 40 unstable. The reason for this is that protons, like neutrons, like to exist in pairs in a nucleus.

What does potassium radioactively decay into?

calcium-40 Potassium has three isotopes (see Potassium); potassium-40 ( 40K) is radioactive and decays to both calcium-40 ( 40Ca) and argon-40 ( 40Ar).

What is the mass defect of K 40?

binding energy measurement and beta decay …of naturally occurring but radioactive potassium-40 is measured to be 39.964008 amu. Potassium-40 decays predominantly by β-emission to calcium-40, having a measured mass 39.962589.

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-40 ionized?

Ionising Radiation and Tissue Potassium-40 has a relative abundance of about 0.01% naturally, and exists within the potassium in the body tissues. Carbon-14 may also exist within the body tissues due to the natural turnover of carbon by the body, even though its half-life is relatively short.

Why is potassium so radioactive?

Potassium (K) is a widely encountered element with a very small fraction of its atoms, about 0.012%, being radioactive. These K-40 atoms spontaneously decay, releasing electrons (beta radiation) as well as gamma rays. Both of these are capable of doing damage to tissues.

What does potassium chloride do to the human body?

Potassium chloride is a medicine used to prevent or treat low potassium levels in the body. Potassium is a mineral that your body needs for proper functioning of the heart, muscles, kidneys, nerves, and digestive system.

How long is a potassium-40 half-life?

The half-life of potassium-40 that decays through beta emission is 1.28 × 109 years, however the half-life of potassium-40 that decays through positron emission is 1.19 × 1010 years.