16/6C->14/7N+0/-1e+v^e
A student claims that the equation models beta-plus decay because the atomic number of the reaction nucleus increases by one.
What does the e represent in the equation?
What is the error in the students reasoning?
In the equation, e represents an electron.
The error in the student's reasoning is that beta-plus decay involves the emission of a positron (e+) and not an electron. In beta-plus decay, a proton is converted into a neutron, resulting in the emission of a positron and a neutrino. This process causes the atomic number to decrease by one, not increase.