Question

Describe beta decay and write down the formula for the energy generated in this decay.

Answer 1

A radioactive transformation in which a β-particle is emitted is called β-decay. In a  β^- -decay, the atomic number of the nucleus increases by 1 and the mass number remains unchanged.

Example: \[\ce{_90^234Th->_91^234Pa + _-1^0e +\bar{v}_e}\]

where `bar"v"_"e"` is the antineutrino emitted to conserve the momentum, energy and spin.

Q = [m_Th - m_pa - m_e]c²

In a β⁺ -decay, the atomic number of the nucleus decreases by 1 and the mass number remains unchanged.

Example: \[\ce{_15^30P->_14^30Si +_+1^0e +v_e}\]

where v_e is the neutrino emitted to conserve the momentum, energy and spin.

Q = [m_P - m_Si - m_e]c²