10/6 C —> 10/5 B + 0/+1 e

Question

A student claims that the equation models beta-minus decay because the atomic number of the nucleus decreases by one. In one or two sentences, explain the error in the student's reasoning.

Answer 1

The error in the student's reasoning is that beta-minus decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton, causing the atomic number to increase by one, not decrease. The equation should actually represent beta-plus decay, where a proton is converted into a neutron and a positron is emitted.