When a nucleus emits a positron, its atomic number
A)increases by 1.
B)decreases by 1.
C)doesn't change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a nucleus emits a positron, it is undergoing beta-plus decay. In this process, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, which results in the emission of a positron and a neutrino. Since a proton has a positive charge and a neutron has no charge, the atomic number decreases by 1 when a proton is converted into a neutron. Therefore, the correct answer is B - the atomic number decreases by 1.

When a Nucleus Emits a Positron, Its Atomic Number