Question

How does the nucleus change in beta-plus decay?(1 point) Responses The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number increases by one. The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number increases by one. The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number decreases by one. The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number decreases by one. The mass number decreases by one, and the atomic number remains the same. The mass number decreases by one, and the atomic number remains the same. The mass number increases by one, and the atomic number remains the same.

Answer 1

In beta-plus decay (β+ decay), a proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron while emitting a positron and a neutrino. This process results in the atomic number decreasing by one, since there is one less proton, but the mass number remains the same (as the total number of nucleons does not change).

Therefore, the correct response is: **The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number decreases by one.**