The two types of beta decay are known as beta minus and beta plus. In beta minus (β ) decay, a neutron is converted to a p… 展开

Radioactivity was discovered in 1896 by Henri Becquerel in uranium, and subsequently observed by Marie and Pierre Curie in thorium and in the new elements polonium and radium. In 1899, Ernest Rutherford separated … 展开

In β decay, the weak interaction converts an atomic nucleus into a nucleus with atomic number increased by one, while emitting an electron ( e ) and an electron antineutrino ( ν e). β decay generally occurs in neutron-rich nuclei. The gene… 展开

In β decay, or positron emission, the weak interaction converts an atomic nucleus into a nucleus with atomic number decreased by one, while emitting a positron ( e ) and an electron neutrino ( ν e). β decay generally occurs in proton … 展开

In all cases where β decay (positron emission) of a nucleus is allowed energetically, so too is electron capture allowed. This is a process during which a nucleus captures one of its atomic electrons, resulti… 展开

If the proton and neutron are part of an atomic nucleus, the above described decay processes transmute one chemical element into another. For example:
55Cs → 56Ba + e + ν e (beta minus decay) 11Na → 10Ne + … 展开