Radioactive Decay – Beta Decay

Beta Decay

  1. A beta particle is an electron emitted from a nucleus.
  2. The beta particles are very small and move with very high speed.
  3. During beta decay, a radioactive atom X decay and emits a beta particle ( 0-1e).
  4. One of the neutron is disintegrated to become proton and electron. The electron is emitted out from the nucleus whereas the proton stays in the nucleus. 
  5. Therefore proton number increase by 1 and the nucleon number remain unchanged.

Examples of beta decay