Question

In beta decay, an electron (or a positron) is emitted by a nucleus. Does the remaining atom get oppositely charged?

Answer 1

In beta decay, a neutron from the nucleus is converted to a proton releasing an electron and an antineutrino or a proton is converted to a neutron releasing a positron and a neutrino.

i.e.  `β^(-) "decay"  :  n → p + e + bar(nu)`

`β^(+) "decay"  :  p → n + e^(+) + nu`

Since the number of valence electrons present in the parent atom do not change, the remaining atom does not get oppositely charged. Instead, due to a change in the atomic number, there's a formation of a new element.