@pkaps01 small detail but we should make sure to specify that +1 e is a position. The notation otherwise looks identical to an electron.
That makes sense to me. An electron is 0/-1e so it does look similar/potentially create confusion without explicitly denoting the +. When I was making the card I was thinking about if it’s better to make it more apparent at a quick glance that 0/1e is not negative and not an electron by saying 0/+1e. I’ve seen a positron in physics indicated both ways. I’ll add both to the card. Something like this?
My instinct is that, just for the sake of clarity, and without being overly redundant:
(ignore the lack of notation here, as I’m being lazy)
-1e = electron
+1e = positron
Arguably ‘1’ is, by definition, already positive, so I know we don’t have to state as much but I think that, in this case, elucidating the relative charges is helpful to avoid potential confusion for folks who are, obviously, at the tender learning phase so as not to get lost in a morass of what might be relatively less familiar isotopic notation.
(lazy, but not infinitely lazy)
Great that makes sense to me! Fixed. I also modified both Betas to be +1 do you agree with this change? Also, do you have any hesitation using 11/6C as the start molecule. I think the B associated with Boron and Beta are different enough but does this maybe open the door to confusion?
I think +1, to avoid any potential confusions, even if it is a touch redundant technically, is the smart move.
I don’t think I have any specific thoughts on which elements to use for these examples. In theory they all seem more-or-less equal in terms of illustrating the concept and mechanism, though I’m open to ideas if you think there’s one element that should, or shouldn’t, be preferable for these examples.
I was only worried cause there will be B and Beta next to each other in the products as a result of starting with 11/6 C. So it looks like two Bs at first glance. Shouldn’t be too confusing though. Probably am just being neurotic.
You got another element in mind?
UWorld uses potassium (K) which seems as good a candidate as any
Honestly I think that might be best. Just completely avoids anyone not looking closely, seeing two products that look like B and getting confused (though admittedly it’s probably unlikely). It’s just such an easy fix that it feels like why not.
Which isotope of Potassium does UWorld use? I don’t have the books and haven’t come across this question yet if it exists in the QBank.
I’m dumb. Didn’t realize it was above only zeroed in on the 0/+1e we were talking about in the pic. Thanks lol. Made the edit.