During Beta Plus decay, which change occurs in the nucleus?

During Beta Plus decay, which change occurs in the nucleus?

• A. A Neutron Becomes a Proton
• B. A Proton Becomes a Neutron
• C. A Positron Is Emitted
• D. A Gamma Ray Is Emitted

Answer: (B)

In Beta Plus decay, a proton inside the nucleus is transformed into a neutron. This happens through the weak interaction: one of the proton’s up quarks changes into a down quark, emitting a W+ boson that then decays into a positron and a neutrino. As a result, the nucleus loses one unit of positive charge (the atomic number decreases by 1) while the total number of nucleons stays the same. The emitted positron accompanies the decay, but gamma radiation would only occur if the daughter nucleus is left in an excited state, not as part of the fundamental change. So the key change in the nucleus is a proton becoming a neutron.

In Beta Plus decay, a proton inside the nucleus is transformed into a neutron. This happens through the weak interaction: one of the proton’s up quarks changes into a down quark, emitting a W+ boson that then decays into a positron and a neutrino. As a result, the nucleus loses one unit of positive charge (the atomic number decreases by 1) while the total number of nucleons stays the same. The emitted positron accompanies the decay, but gamma radiation would only occur if the daughter nucleus is left in an excited state, not as part of the fundamental change. So the key change in the nucleus is a proton becoming a neutron.