Na
Alkali metal
Sodium
Z 11A 23mass 22.99
Slow-motion stage
Sodium-24
proton
neutron
electron (β⁻)
Parent nucleus · 24 nucleons
11 protons (coral) and 13 neutrons (blue) are packed together and held by the strong force.
A real decay takes about 10⁻²¹ s. At ⅓× this stage stretches it across eleven seconds.
Choose a reaction
Reaction
2411Na2412Mg+β⁻+ ν̄
A neutron turns into a proton. An electron and an antineutrino fly out.
Z
1112
+1
A
2424
no change
n⁰
1312
-1
Energy released
1.39MeV
Electron (max)1.390 MeV
Mass convertedE = Δm c²0.00149 u
In joules2.23 × 10-13 J
Compared with a bonda C–C bond is 3.6 eV≈ 386,111 ×
Half-life of Sodium-24
14.96 hours
Leaves magnesium-24, often in an excited state.
The particle
- Charge
- −1
- Mass
- 1/1836 u
- Speed
- Up to 99.9% of the speed of light
- Ionising power
- Moderate
- Stopped by
- A few millimetres of aluminium