Question

How should you write nuclear reactions for beta decay?

Answer 1

Hint: Beta decay is a radioactive decay, in which a beta particle is emitted from the nucleus of an atom. So, there are two types of beta decay: Beta-plus decay and Beta-minus decay. In Beta-plus decay there is a decrease in the atomic number by one however the mass remains the same.

Complete solution:
In beta decay the parent nucleus releases electrons or beta particles by disintegrating itself into two daughter nuclei. So, in this beta decay the masses of the daughter nuclei remain the same while the atomic number of the daughter nuclei gets affected. In this question we will consider beta-plus decay as it is not specified in the above questions and later we will discuss about the beta-minus decay.

In the beta-plus decay the excess protons which are inside the nucleus get converted into neutrons, by releasing a positron and an electron neutrino. Here, there is a decrease in the atomic number of the daughter nuclei while the atomic masses remain unchanged. The equation for the beta-plus decay is:
$p \to n + {e^ + } + {v_e}$

Additional information:
As we know that there are two types of beta decay:
1.Betaplus decay
2.Betaminus decay.
We have already discussed the beta-plus decay. Now what’s new in beta-minus decay. Beta-minus decay is just opposite of the beta-plus decay. In beta-minus decay the atomic number increases by one while the atomic masses of the daughter nuclei remain the same. When a neutron is converted into a proton, an electron and a new particle which is named as antineutrino (v') are created and emitted from the nucleus. Here beta-minus is used for electrons. The equation for beta-minus decay is:
$n \to p + {e^ - } + v'$

Note:
As we know that beta decay has high penetration power hence they can pass through several layers of shield. Due to their greater penetrating power, the materials which includes metals like tin, antimony, bismuth and any other elements made of plastic can block this beta decay