Answer
a. See answers.
b. $0.083\%$.
Work Step by Step
a. If this reaction were possible, then protons and electrons in atoms could turn into neutrons. This would drastically how atoms combine in chemical and nuclear reactions, changing our universe as we know it.
b. Following the hint, assume that there is no initial kinetic energy.
The process described is $^{1}_{1}H \rightarrow\;^{1}_{0}n+\nu $.$$Q=\left( m(^{1}_{1}H)- m(^{1}_{0}n)) \right)c^2$$
$$ =\left(1.007825u-1.008665u\right)c^2\left( \frac{931.49MeV/c^2}{u}\right)$$
$$ =-0.782\;MeV$$
The negative value shows that we initially have less energy. If the proton’s mass-energy were increased by 0.782 MeV, the reaction would be energetically possible. Calculate the percentage increase.
$$\frac{0.782MeV/c^2}{938.27MeV/c^2}=0.083\%$$
