Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay. It comes in two "flavors" or types, and they are beta plus decay and beta minus decay. The weak interaction (or weak force, or weak nuclear force) mediates this type of decay, and it allows for a change in the nucleus of an atom. Let's look at the two types.
In beta minus decay, a neutron in an atom's nucleus will be converted into a proton. This happens when one of the down quarks which make up the neutron is converted into an up quark. As the change occurs, an electron will be ejected from the nucleus along with an antineutrino. The transmutation of an atom, an element, will have taken place. The new atom will have an atomic number 1 greater than that of the original element. This is nuclear transmutation. If you're interested in the equation, it looks like this:
n -> p + e- + -ve
In that equation, the symbols are for the neutron, proton, electron and antineutrino, respectively.
In a beta plus decay event, a proton in an atom's nucleus will be converted into a neutron. One of the up quarks in the proton will be converted into a down quark. When this change occurs, a positron will be ejected from the nucleus, along with a neutrino. An atom so affected will have its atomic number go down by 1 and it, too, will have undergone transmutation to a new element. The equation for this reaction looks like this:
p -> n + e+ +ve
In this equation, the symbols are for the proton, neutron, positron and neutrino, respectively.
Use the links below for more information on beta decay and what happens when it occurs.
When a neutron -> proton, it is called a Beta - (minus) decay.
Beta decay converts a neutron to a proton, an electron, and an electron neutrino.
The equation for the beta decay of 137Cs:55137Cs --> 56137Ba + -10e where the e is a negative beta particle or electron.
Oxygen-15 does not decay by alpha decay. It decays by beta+ decay to Nitrogen-15, giving off a positron and an electron neutrino. 715O --> (beta+)--> (t1/2 = 122.24 seconds) --> 615N + e+ + ve
The nuclear reaction is: 232Th--------------- 228Ra + α
No, thorium emitting a beta particle is a nuclear reaction, not a chemical reaction. In a beta decay process, a neutron in the thorium nucleus converts into a proton, emitting a beta particle (an electron) and an antineutrino. This type of decay is a form of radioactive decay, which is a nuclear process involving changes in the nucleus of an atom.
When a neutron -> proton, it is called a Beta - (minus) decay.
This is an example of beta decay, specifically beta-minus decay. In this reaction, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, electron, and anti-neutrino. This results in the formation of 90Zr from 90Y.
nuclear decay, such as alpha decay or beta decay.
Beta decay converts a neutron to a proton, an electron, and an electron neutrino.
The equation for the beta decay of 137Cs:55137Cs --> 56137Ba + -10e where the e is a negative beta particle or electron.
Oxygen-15 does not decay by alpha decay. It decays by beta+ decay to Nitrogen-15, giving off a positron and an electron neutrino. 715O --> (beta+)--> (t1/2 = 122.24 seconds) --> 615N + e+ + ve
The nuclear reaction is: 232Th--------------- 228Ra + α
The four types of nuclear decay are alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, and neutron decay. Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, beta decay involves the emission of beta particles (either electrons or positrons), gamma decay involves the emission of gamma rays, and neutron decay involves the emission of a neutron.
Beta Decay (@chickenfingers is correct, thank you)
The balanced nuclear equation for the beta decay of potassium-42 is: ^42K -> ^42Ca + e^- + νe
The nuclear equation for the beta decay of Sn-126 is: Sn-126 -> Sb-126 + e- + anti-neutrino