Question
What is the nuclear equation for the beta decay of cesium-137
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The beta decay of cesium-137 (\(^{137}\text{Cs}\)) can be represented by the following nuclear equation:
\[
^{137}\text{Cs} \rightarrow \, ^{137}\text{Ba} + \, \beta^- + \bar{\nu}
\]
In this equation:
- \(^{137}\text{Cs}\) is the parent nuclide (cesium-137).
- \(^{137}\text{Ba}\) is the daughter nuclide (barium-137), which is formed after the decay.
- \(\beta^-\) represents the beta particle (an electron) that is emitted during the decay.
- \(\bar{\nu}\) is an antineutrino, which is also emitted in the process.
This reaction illustrates the transformation of cesium-137 into barium-137 through the emission of a beta particle and an antineutrino, resulting in a change in the atomic number but leaving the mass number unchanged.
\[
^{137}\text{Cs} \rightarrow \, ^{137}\text{Ba} + \, \beta^- + \bar{\nu}
\]
In this equation:
- \(^{137}\text{Cs}\) is the parent nuclide (cesium-137).
- \(^{137}\text{Ba}\) is the daughter nuclide (barium-137), which is formed after the decay.
- \(\beta^-\) represents the beta particle (an electron) that is emitted during the decay.
- \(\bar{\nu}\) is an antineutrino, which is also emitted in the process.
This reaction illustrates the transformation of cesium-137 into barium-137 through the emission of a beta particle and an antineutrino, resulting in a change in the atomic number but leaving the mass number unchanged.