How does electron capture change an element's atomic number?

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A color-coded periodic table of the elements displays each element's symbol and atomic number, with categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals, and actinoid elements distinguished by different background colors. — transuranium element Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).

During the process of electron capture, a nucleus absorbs an orbital electron from its surrounding electron cloud. This captured electron interacts with a proton in the nucleus, transforming that proton into a neutron.12

Because the nucleus loses a proton, its total positive charge decreases by one, which results in the element's atomic number being reduced by one. Consequently, the nucleus transforms into a daughter element with an atomic number one lower than that of the original parent nucleus.1