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Infer the mass number and the atomic number of a nucleus change when it emits a beta particle?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Answer: It depends on the type of beta decay. There are two types of beta radiation: beta minus and beta plus. (In both cases, the mass number is not affected.)
In the occurrence of beta minus decay, the atomic number increases by one, but the mass number stays the same. A neutron is changed into a proton via the weak nuclear interaction. An electron and an electron anti-neutrino are emitted. (One of the down quarks that make up the hadron is being changed to an up quark, and that is enough to change the entire hadron).
In the occurrence of beta plus decay, the atomic number decreases by one, but the mass number stays the same. A positron and an electron neutrino are generally emitted.
Beta minus occurs when there are too many neutrons in the nucleus. Beta plus occurs when there are too many protons in the nucleus.
Important Detail: Some gamma rays are emitted shortly after beta plus, beta minus, or alpha decay because the nuclei still has excess energy.
Answer: A beta particle (AKA an electron or positron) has a mass number of zero and an atomic number of -1 or +1, so the product of decay has the same mass but an atomic number 1 different than the original nuclei.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBeta decay doesn't change the mass number.
In β- decay a neutron decays into a proton which remains in the nucleus, and an antineutrino and electron are ejected. In β+ decay a proton decays into a neutron, with a neutrino and positron being ejected.
In both cases, the mass number - i.e. the total number of protons and neutrons - remains the same.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe beta particle is an electron, which has too small a mass to be part of the mass number. The mass number therefore remains unchanged when a nucleus emits a beta particle, but the atomic number goes up by one, because one of the neutrons in the original nucleus is replaced by a proton.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoWe make atomic number by number of protons in a atom. We make mass number by total of both protons and neutrons.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe mass number, the sum of the protons and neutrons, doesn't change, and the atomic number increases by 1.
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The blank is the particle in the nucleus of an atom that carries a positive charge and is counted to identify the atomic number?
Proton.
When radium emits an alpha particle the resulting nucleus has atomic number?
The result is radon, atomic number 86. 226Ra - alpha particle = 222Rn (radon, a radioactive gas)
What does the subatomic particle do?
Protons and neutrons are the components of the atomic nucleus; the number of protons is equal to the atomic number, the most important parameter for a chemical element. Electrons surround the nucleus and are responsible (the last level) for the chemical properties of elements.
When uranium-238 atomic number 92 decays by emitting an alpha particle it becomes?
The atomic number will decrease by 2. An alpha particle is a helium-4 nucleus, and it contains a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons. During alpha decay, an atomic nucleus has its atomic mass decrease by 4, and its atomic number decrease by 2.
What radiation results in the greatest change in atomic number?
Setting aside spontaneous fission, which is the natural "splitting" of an atom into fissin fragments, it is alpha decay that results in the greatest change in atomic number. The alpha particle carries off a helium-4 nucleus, which is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons. Atomic number of an element involved in an alpha decay goes down by two.
When an unstable nucleus produces an beta particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
The atomic number decreases by one for each beta particle
What happens to the atomic number when the nucleus releases a beta particle?
When the nucleus releases a beta minus particle the atomic number increase with 1.When the nucleus releases a beta plus particle the atomic number decrease with 1.
When an unstable nucleus produces an alpha particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 protons, which means its atomic number will be reduced by 2.
What particle does the atomic number equal in the nucleus?
The number of Protons in the nucleus determines the atom's Atomic number.
What is proton or atomic number?
A proton is a subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom. Protons have a positive electric charge. The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of one of its atoms. Therefore, if you change the number of protons in an atom, you change the element.
If a radioactive nucleus with an atomic number of 88 emits an alpha particle what will the atomic number of the new nucleus be?
Two less, since the alpha particle takes away two protons.
What does An alpha particle has the same mass and atomic number as?
Helium nucleus
That particle that gives an element its atomic number is in this part?
The atomic number is determined by the number of protons, which are located in the nucleus.
Nucleus of the chemical element atomic number 2 emitted by some radioactive substances?
alpha particle, He nucleus
The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of contained in one atom of that particle?
The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons contained in the atomic nucleus.
When thorium emits beta particle the resulting nucleus has a atomic number?
The resulting element is protactinium, atomic number 91.
The atomic number is the number of what in an element?
An element's atomic number is a count of how many protons are normally part of the element's nucleus. Since protons are normally the only particle in the nucleus with a charge (+), the atomic number also represents the charge of the nucleus.
