I read that beta decay is when a neutron in the nucleus of an atom turns into a proton. It also stated that an electron is released from the nucleus. My understanding is that there are no electrons in the nucleus. Where is the electron being emitted coming from?
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In beta decay, a neutron decays into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino. The decay process observes charge conservation - a proton has +1 charge, an electron has -1 charge, and the neutron and antineutrino are chargeless. It is from this decay process that the electron is formed in the nucleus, and this electron get ejected from the nucleus, along with the antineutrino.
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A neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an anti-neutrino.
Internally, a down quark (charge -2/3) turns into an up quark (charge +2/3) plus the electron (charge -1), and the antineutrino (charge zero).
It's not like there are electrons bound with protons in the nucleus. It's a change to the composition of the neutron.
Internally, a down quark (charge -2/3) turns into an up quark (charge +2/3) plus the electron (charge -1), and the antineutrino (charge zero).
It's not like there are electrons bound with protons in the nucleus. It's a change to the composition of the neutron.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gOenNRG7DE