Question

\({ }_{11} \mathrm{Na}^{24} \longrightarrow{ }_{\mathrm{Q}} \mathrm{Mg}^{\mathrm{P}}+{ }_{-1} \mathrm{e}^{0}\)

In the above equation, the values of P and Q are:

Options

• P = 25, Q = 12

• P = 24, Q = 10

• P = 24, Q = 12

• none of these

Answer 1

P = 24, Q = 12

Explanation:

In beta decay, a neutron changes into a proton and an electron. The proton stays in the nucleus, so the mass number remains 24, but the atomic number increases by 1, giving Q = 11 + 1 = 12.