How does beta radiation occur?

Answer 1

The underlying reason for beta decay is nuclear instability. Some atoms have a nucleus that is unstable because the proton-neutron ratio is "unstable" for that nucleus. In beta decay (there are two types), the weak interaction (which some might call the weak force) mediates a transformation that transmutes the nucleus. A neutron is converted into a proton with the ejection of an electron in beta minus decay. In beta plus decay, a proton is converted into a neutron with the ejection of a positron (anti-electron). A link is provided below for more information.The beta decay can be represented as:

ZXA ------->Z+1YA +-1e0 +EBwhere EB is the emitted beta particle

Answer 2

The radioactive atom is "unstable".

When the nucleus of an atom doesn't have a structure that is stable, it will try to balance itself out so it is stable. So, it emits radiation to allow the protons and neutrons to rearrange into a more stable structure. It may require several of these decay events for a given atom to finally achieve a stable structure, the majority of which will transmute the atom to that of a different element than it was before decaying.

Answer 3

In the standard type of beta decay a neutron in the nucleus becomes a proton while an electron and a neutrino are ejected from the nucleus.

In K-capture beta decay a proton in the nucleus becomes a neutron while an inner electron from the K-shell is captured by the nucleus and a neutrino is ejected from the nucleus.

In reverse beta decay a proton in the nucleus becomes a neutron while a positron and a neutrino are ejected from the nucleus.

All of these processes are mediated by the weak force and involve exchanges of W and Z bosons. These bosons are quite massive, unlike the photon of the electromagnetic force which is a boson with zero mass.

Answer 4

Beta decay is when an electron is ejected from the nucleus of the atom.

When an unstable nucleus finds it has too many protons, to make the nucleus more stable, a proton turns into a neutron and gives off an electron in doing so, as the electrons cannot be within the nucleus of the cell.