Is beta decay a form of nuclear fission?
A. Yes, it is because the mass number changes.
B. Yes, it is because the atomic number changes.
C. No, it is not because the mass number does not change.
D. No, it is not because the atomic number does not change.
C. No, it is not because the mass number does not change.
The correct answer is D. No, it is not because the atomic number does not change.
Beta decay is a process in which a nucleus undergoes a transformation by emitting or absorbing a beta particle (an electron or a positron). During beta decay, the number of protons (atomic number) in the nucleus does change, but the total number of nucleons (mass number) remains the same.
Nuclear fission, on the other hand, is a process in which a heavy nucleus is split into two or more lighter nuclei, resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy. This process does not involve the emission or absorption of beta particles.
C. No, it is not because the mass number does not change.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand what beta decay and nuclear fission are and how they differ from each other.
Nuclear fission is a process where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a significant amount of energy. This process usually requires the absorption of a neutron to trigger the splitting.
On the other hand, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay where a neutron in the nucleus of an atom is converted into a proton, creating a different element. This process involves the emission of a beta particle (an electron or a positron) from the nucleus.
In beta decay, the change occurs in the atomic number of the nucleus, as a neutron is being converted into a proton. However, the mass number of the nucleus remains the same because the number of protons and neutrons is conserved.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. No, it is not because the mass number does not change.