Definition: Beta decay refers to the spontaneous radioactive decay where a beta particle is produced.
There are two types of beta decay where the beta particle is either an electron or a positron.
β- decay occurs when an electron is the beta particle. An atom will β- decay when a neutron in the nucleus converts to a proton by the reaction
ZXA → ZYA+1 + e- + antineutrino
where X is the parent atom, Y is the daughter atom, Z is the atomic mass of X, A is the atomic number of X.
β+ decay occurs when a positron is the beta particle. An atom will β+ decay when a proton in the nucleus converts into a neutron by the reaction
ZXA → ZYA-1 + e+ + neutrino
where X is the parent atom, Y is the daughter atom, Z is the atomic mass of X, A is the atomic number of X.
In both cases, the atomic mass of the atom remains constant but the elements are transmuted by one atomic number.
There are two types of beta decay where the beta particle is either an electron or a positron.
β- decay occurs when an electron is the beta particle. An atom will β- decay when a neutron in the nucleus converts to a proton by the reaction
ZXA → ZYA+1 + e- + antineutrino
where X is the parent atom, Y is the daughter atom, Z is the atomic mass of X, A is the atomic number of X.
β+ decay occurs when a positron is the beta particle. An atom will β+ decay when a proton in the nucleus converts into a neutron by the reaction
ZXA → ZYA-1 + e+ + neutrino
where X is the parent atom, Y is the daughter atom, Z is the atomic mass of X, A is the atomic number of X.
In both cases, the atomic mass of the atom remains constant but the elements are transmuted by one atomic number.
Examples:
Cesium-137 decays to Barium-137 by β- decay.Sodium-22 decays to Neon-22 by β+ decay.
