Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?
A)The atomic number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent; the mass numbers are the same.
B)The daughter isotope has an atomic number two less than the parent and a mass number four less.
C)The daughter isotope has an atomic number one less than the parent and a mass number two less.
D)The mass number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent, and both isotopes have the same atomic number.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In beta particle emission, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton and an electron (the beta particle). The electron is emitted, but the proton remains in the nucleus. This increases the atomic number of the daughter isotope by one compared to the parent isotope, while the mass number remains unchanged because the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus does not change.

Which of the Following Describes Radioactive Decay by Beta Particle