| Beta decay can occur in two ways. As shown on the left, a neutron turns into a proton by emitting an antineutrino and a negatively charged beta particle. As shown on the right, a proton turns into a neutron by emitting a neutrino and a positively charged beta particle. Positive beta particles are called positrons and negative beta particles are called electrons. After the decay, the nucleus of the atom contains either one less or one more proton. Beta decay transmutes the atom into a new element that is represented by a different atomic number. |
