Question

How is the atomic mass changed by beta decay?

Answer 1

Hint:A beta particle is a fast moving electron. Beta particles are emitted when a radioactive atom decays. The decay of carbon into nitrogen is a natural example of beta emission. When it comes to atomic mass number, it does not change as a beta particle has a much smaller mass than the atom.

 Complete step-by-step answer:The atomic number is known to increase because a neutron has turned into an extra proton. In beta decay, we can say that the change is when a neutron turns into a proton plus an electron. It is known that neutrons and protons are called hadrons. It is known as they are made up of quarks. The process of beta decay occurs when one of the down quarks in a neutron changes into an up quark, which results in the formation of a proton.
Equation of beta decay: ${^{14}_6}C{ \to ^{14}}_7N{ + ^0}_{ - 1}\beta $
This displays that one fundamental particle is changing into a different fundamental particle. The forces that make beta decay happen are not the strong nuclear force as this has no effect on electrons and the beta particle is an electron.
It is known that during beta decay the atomic mass increases. This happens as a neutron decays into a proton during a beta decay. Due to the formation of a new proton, there is an increase in the atomic mass.

Note:Beta decay is known to be a weak penetrating effect as it gets stopped by a few millimeters of air. Beta decay is found to be more penetrating than alpha radiation but it is found to be less ionizing. There are two types of beta decay which are beta-minus decay and beta-plus decay. They both occur to establish a more stable neutron:proton ratio.