Question
The beta minus decay process 13 7N→13 6C+β−+ν¯¯¯
is proposed in which nitrogen’s proton becomes a neutron. The process is not possible because:(1 point)
Responses
charge conservation is not satisfied
charge conservation is not satisfied
the number of baryons is not conserved
the number of baryons is not conserved
the number of protons has changed while the number of neutrons has not
the number of protons has changed while the number of neutrons has not
the lepton number is not conserved
the lepton number is not conserved
is proposed in which nitrogen’s proton becomes a neutron. The process is not possible because:(1 point)
Responses
charge conservation is not satisfied
charge conservation is not satisfied
the number of baryons is not conserved
the number of baryons is not conserved
the number of protons has changed while the number of neutrons has not
the number of protons has changed while the number of neutrons has not
the lepton number is not conserved
the lepton number is not conserved
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The reaction \(^{13}_7N \rightarrow ^{13}_6C + \beta^- + \bar{\nu}\) represents a beta-minus decay process where a proton in nitrogen is transformed into a neutron, emitting a beta particle (an electron) and an antineutrino.
To analyze the validity of the proposed decay, let's break it down:
1. **Charge conservation**: The initial nitrogen nucleus has a charge of +7 (7 protons), while the carbon produced has a charge of +6 (6 protons) and the emitted beta particle has a charge of -1. So, the total charge after the decay is \(6 + (-1) = 5\), which does not equal +7. Thus, charge conservation is violated.
2. **Number of baryons**: The number of baryons is conserved since both nitrogen and carbon are baryons, and their total baryon count remains the same.
3. **Number of protons vs. number of neutrons**: In beta decay, a proton transforms into a neutron. In this specific case, the number of protons is decreasing by one (from 7 to 6), while the total nucleon (proton + neutron) count remains the same (both have 13). Therefore, this statement is misleading as beta decay does allow for changes in the number of protons versus neutrons.
4. **Lepton number**: In beta decay, lepton number is conserved. The emitted beta particle contributes +1 to the lepton number, and the antineutrino contributes -1, so the total lepton number remains balanced.
So, the correct reason why this decay process is not possible is:
**Charge conservation is not satisfied.**
To analyze the validity of the proposed decay, let's break it down:
1. **Charge conservation**: The initial nitrogen nucleus has a charge of +7 (7 protons), while the carbon produced has a charge of +6 (6 protons) and the emitted beta particle has a charge of -1. So, the total charge after the decay is \(6 + (-1) = 5\), which does not equal +7. Thus, charge conservation is violated.
2. **Number of baryons**: The number of baryons is conserved since both nitrogen and carbon are baryons, and their total baryon count remains the same.
3. **Number of protons vs. number of neutrons**: In beta decay, a proton transforms into a neutron. In this specific case, the number of protons is decreasing by one (from 7 to 6), while the total nucleon (proton + neutron) count remains the same (both have 13). Therefore, this statement is misleading as beta decay does allow for changes in the number of protons versus neutrons.
4. **Lepton number**: In beta decay, lepton number is conserved. The emitted beta particle contributes +1 to the lepton number, and the antineutrino contributes -1, so the total lepton number remains balanced.
So, the correct reason why this decay process is not possible is:
**Charge conservation is not satisfied.**