Beta decay — Science definition
Decay in which a neutron becomes a proton and emits a beta particle (an electron, ⁰₋₁e), raising the atomic number by 1 while the mass number stays the same.
Where it is taught
- Nuclear Chemistry — Redox, Cells & Nuclear Chemistry, Physical Science: Chemistry, Grade 11
In use
Proton and neutron numbers separately are not always conserved, as beta decay changes one into the other.
Nuclear Chemistry