5) If a nucleus gains a neutron and then undergoes beta emission, a. its atomic

Question

5) If a nucleus gains a neutron and then undergoes beta emission,

a.

its atomic number decreases by one and its mass number increases by one.

b.

its atomic number is unchanged and its mass number increases by one.

c.

both its atomic number and its mass number are unchanged.

d.

its atomic number increases by one and its mass number is unchanged.

e.

its atomic number increases by one and its mass number increases by one.

Getting conflicting answers from everywhere, need explanation.

a.

its atomic number decreases by one and its mass number increases by one.

b.

its atomic number is unchanged and its mass number increases by one.

c.

both its atomic number and its mass number are unchanged.

d.

its atomic number increases by one and its mass number is unchanged.

e.

its atomic number increases by one and its mass number increases by one.

Getting conflicting answers from everywhere, need explanation.

Explanation / Answer

E) ts atomic number increases by one and its mass number increases by one.

Beta emission is the emission of an electron.
A neutron for simplicity is a composite of a proton and an electron.

Now a nucleus captured an neutron the mass would increase by one. Now the nucleus undergoes beta emission by emitting an electron, then the atomic number (number of protons) would also increase by one.

For simplicity, in beta emission just add one proton to the nucleus and you would get the answer. The number of proton would increase and the mass would also increase (atomic mass is the sum of proton and neutron, so if the number of proton increased by one, mass would also increase by one)

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