How is the particle represented?
beta decay
In beta decay, the particle is represented by the letter "β". This letter is derived from the Greek letter "beta" (β), which is used to denote the second letter of the Greek alphabet. Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay that involves the emission of a beta particle, which can be either an electron (β-) or a positron (β+) depending on the specific decay process.
Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle is emitted from the nucleus of an atom. The beta particle can be either an electron (beta-minus decay) or a positron (beta-plus decay). The representation of the particle is as follows:
1. Beta-minus decay (β- decay):
In beta-minus decay, a neutron in the nucleus of an atom changes into a proton, emitting an electron and an electron antineutrino. The representation of the beta particle emitted is: β-
Example:
Carbon-14 undergoing beta-minus decay:
14/6 C -> 14/7 N + β- + ν¯e
2. Beta-plus decay (β+ decay):
In beta-plus decay, a proton in the nucleus of an atom changes into a neutron, emitting a positron and an electron neutrino. The representation of the beta particle emitted is: β+
Example:
Fluorine-18 undergoing beta-plus decay:
18/9 F -> 18/8 O + β+ + νe
In beta decay, a fundamental particle called a neutrino is emitted along with a charged particle, either an electron (beta-minus decay) or a positron (beta-plus decay). The particle being represented in this context is the beta particle itself, which is either the electron or the positron.
To understand how the particle is represented, we need to look at the notation used for beta decay. In beta-minus decay, the process can be represented as follows:
Z → Z+1 + e- + ν
where Z represents the atomic number (number of protons) of the parent atom, Z+1 represents the atomic number of the daughter atom (increased by one), e- represents the emitted electron, and ν represents the emitted neutrino.
Similarly, in beta-plus decay, the process can be represented as:
Z → Z-1 + e+ + ν
where Z represents the atomic number of the parent atom, Z-1 represents the atomic number of the daughter atom (decreased by one), e+ represents the emitted positron, and ν represents the emitted neutrino.
So, in the context of beta decay, the particle being represented is either the electron (e-) in beta-minus decay or the positron (e+) in beta-plus decay.