Question

during nuclear decay, a new isotope is created. how is the nucleus of the new isotope different from the parent if the parent isotope has undergone beta decay?
a the atomic number increases by 4 and the mass increases by 2.
b the atomic number increases by 2 and the mass decreases by 4.
c the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass remains the same.
d the atomic number remains the same and the mass decreases by 1.

Explanation:

Beta decay involves the transformation of a neutron into a proton (in beta - minus decay) or a proton into a neutron (in beta - plus decay). In beta - minus decay (the most common type considered here), a neutron (\(n\)) decays into a proton (\(p\)), an electron (\(e^-\)), and an antineutrino (\(\bar{
u}\)). The nuclear reaction can be written as \(^{A}_{Z}X
ightarrow^{A}_{Z + 1}Y+e^-+\bar{
u}\). The mass number \(A\) (sum of protons and neutrons) remains the same because a neutron is converted into a proton (no loss or gain of nucleons in terms of mass - contributing particles). The atomic number \(Z\) (number of protons) increases by 1.

Answer:

C. The atomic number increases by 1 and the mass remains the same.