Beta Decay

Question

Beta Decay of 

 

42

19 K

 

52

26 Fe

 

Beta Decay of carbon -14

 

Beta Decay of Nitrogen -16

 

Beta Decay of Gamma Ray emmission from Thorium -234

 

 

Answer 1

In Beta minus (β−) decay, mass number (top) A remains the same, atomic number (bottom) Z increases by one, and an electron is emitted and electron antineutrino is emitted.

42
19K →
42
20Ca + e− + ν^-_{e(electron antineutrino= equal mass but opposite sign)}

52
26Fe →
52
27Co + e− + ν^-_e

 

14

6C →

14
7N + e− + ν^-_e

 

16
7N →
16
8O + e− + ν^-_e

 

Gamma ray emission is accompanied by β− decay in an excited state (*), which then drops down to a ground state of the atom (lowest energy state)

234
90Th →
234
91Pa* + e− + ν^-_e + γ +Energy release (specific to atom)
234
91Pa*→
234
91Pa + γ +Energy release (specific to atom)

 

In Beta plus (β+) decay, mass number (top) A remains the same, atomic number (bottom) Z decreases by one, and a positron (e+) is emitted and electron neutrino is emitted.
42
19K →
42
18Ar + e⁺ + ν_e(electron neutrino= equal mass but opposite sign)

52
26Fe →
52
25Mn + e⁺ + ν_e

14
6C →
14
5B + e⁺ + ν_e

16
7N →
16
6C + e⁺ + ν_e

Technically gamma ray problem does not apply here, because usually accompanied with β- and not β+ decay.