Radioactive Decay: Beta Decay

Introduction

• Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay that involves the conversion of a down quark into an up quark within an atomic nucleus.
• This transformation leads to the conversion of a neutron into a proton, accompanied by the emission of a beta particle.

Beta Decay Process

• In beta decay, a neutron within an unstable nucleus changes into a proton and emits a beta particle.
• The beta particle emitted is an electron (e⁻), and it carries away energy as it leaves the atom.

Atomic Structure Changes

• Mass Number Change: During beta decay, the mass number (A) of the nucleus remains unchanged because the total number of protons and neutrons remains the same.
• Atomic Number Change: The atomic number (Z) of the nucleus increases by one unit (1) because a neutron is converted into a proton.

Chemical Nomenclature

• Beta particles are represented with the symbol "e⁻" to indicate their composition as electrons.

Example: Beta Decay of Carbon-14

• Carbon-14 (¹⁴C) is a radioactive isotope of carbon with six protons and eight neutrons.
• In beta decay, a neutron within the carbon-14 nucleus changes into a proton, resulting in the formation of nitrogen-14 (¹⁴N), which has seven protons and seven neutrons.
• The process is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle (electron).

Beta Decay Equation

• The beta decay of carbon-14 into nitrogen-14 can be represented by the equation:
  • ¹⁴C → ¹⁴N + e⁻

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Radioactive Decay: Beta Decay

In Summary

• Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a neutron is converted into a proton, accompanied by the emission of a beta particle (electron).
• During beta decay, the mass number (A) remains unchanged, while the atomic number (Z) increases by one unit.
• This process plays a crucial role in the decay of certain radioactive isotopes and has significant implications in nuclear physics and radiometric dating.