Which decay transforms a neutron into a proton, increasing the atomic number by 1?

Which decay transforms a neutron into a proton, increasing the atomic number by 1?

• A. Alpha
• B. Beta Plus
• C. Beta Minus
• D. Gamma

Answer: (C)

Neutron-to-proton transformation that increases the atomic number by one happens in beta minus decay. In this process, a neutron converts into a proton inside the nucleus, and an electron (the beta particle) plus an antineutrino are emitted. This change raises the nucleus’s charge by 1 while leaving the mass number unchanged. The other decay modes don’t fit: alpha decay reduces both charge and mass number, gamma decay changes neither, and beta plus decay converts a proton to a neutron, decreasing the atomic number. So beta minus decay is the mechanism described.

Neutron-to-proton transformation that increases the atomic number by one happens in beta minus decay. In this process, a neutron converts into a proton inside the nucleus, and an electron (the beta particle) plus an antineutrino are emitted. This change raises the nucleus’s charge by 1 while leaving the mass number unchanged. The other decay modes don’t fit: alpha decay reduces both charge and mass number, gamma decay changes neither, and beta plus decay converts a proton to a neutron, decreasing the atomic number. So beta minus decay is the mechanism described.