How will beta decay affect the atomic number and mass number of the atom?
Answers
The atomic mass number does not change because a beta particle has a much smaller mass than the atom. The atomic number goes up because a neutron has turned into an extra proton. However, in beta decay, a fast moving electron is fired out of the nucleus.
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Beta decay increases the number of protons in the nucleus while decreasing the amount of neutrons, basically maintaining the mass of the nucleus. (The mass of the lost electron is negligible)
When a neutron undergoes a beta decay, it emits a high-energy electron and transforms into a positive proton.
When radioactive Carbon 14 undergoes beta decay, this is a famous example. An electron or beta particle is emitted by one of the neutrons. That neutron has now evolved into a proton. After radioactive beta decay, the new atom is Nitrogen 14 with 7 protons 7 neutrons and an atomic mass of 14. Carbon 14 had 6 protons 8 neutrons and an atomic mass of 14.
By increasing the amount of protons and lowering the number of neutrons, beta decay affects the atomic number of the nucleus while keeping the atomic mass approximately the same.