Weird Nuclear Question.. (1 Viewer)

[wrxsti]

1) a radioisotope emits a Beta Particle. Which of the following properties would decrease?

a) Atomic Number
b) Number of protons
c) Number of neutrons
d) Number of electrons



The Answer apparently is "c"
I got either "a" or "b" since they are pretty much the same thing.....
If the answer is "c" howso?

 

[sam04u]

edit: lulz

 

[wrxsti]

A beta particle is a Neutron, fine sir.

your getting a little too old son....lol

(beta particle is an electron)

 

[falcon07]

If a negative beta particle is produced in the decay, then you need to make a proton to conserve charge. So it's C, as a neutron is converted to a proton.

 

[victorheaven]

falcon07 is right, e.g C-14 undergoes beta decay to give N-14
C-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons
N-14 has 7 protons and 7 neutrons
number of protons actually increases and number of neutrons decreases
hope this helps

 

[Forbidden.]

n --> p + e^-