14.A common radiotracer used in nuclear medicine SPECT imaging is the 123I isotope. Iodine is very useful in the imaging of the thyroid and decays by electron capture. Write the complete nuclear decay equation. (10 pts)

₅₃I¹²³ + ₋₁e⁰ => ₅₂Te¹²³

Explanation:

Nuclear decay equations require that the mass and charge are conserved. That is, by mass I-123 + e⁻ => Te-123  & by charge ₅₃I + ₋₁e => ₅₂Te. Together, the nuclear decay equation becomes ₅₃I¹²³ + ₋₁e⁰ => ₅₂Te¹²³.