Which type of radioactive emission results in an increase in atomic number?

Which type of radioactive emission results in an increase in atomic number?

• A. Alpha particles
• B. Beta particles
• C. Gamma rays
• D. Neutrons

Answer: (B)

Beta particles are a type of radioactive emission that results in an increase in atomic number. When a nucleus undergoes beta decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton, which increases the atomic number by one while the mass number remains unchanged. This transformation occurs as a beta particle (which is essentially an electron) is emitted from the nucleus. In contrast, alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, and their emission decreases the atomic number by two. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that do not involve a change in the atomic structure, therefore they do not affect the atomic number either way. Neutrons, when emitted from a nucleus, do not change the atomic number either, as they belong to the mass number rather than contributing to the charge of the nucleus.

Beta particles are a type of radioactive emission that results in an increase in atomic number. When a nucleus undergoes beta decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton, which increases the atomic number by one while the mass number remains unchanged. This transformation occurs as a beta particle (which is essentially an electron) is emitted from the nucleus.

In contrast, alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, and their emission decreases the atomic number by two. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that do not involve a change in the atomic structure, therefore they do not affect the atomic number either way. Neutrons, when emitted from a nucleus, do not change the atomic number either, as they belong to the mass number rather than contributing to the charge of the nucleus.