How does the nucleus change in beta-plus decay?(1 point)

Question

Responses

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 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 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 increases 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 (also known as beta decay with positron emission), a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, which results in the emission of a positron (the antimatter counterpart of an electron) and a neutrino.

As a result:

• The mass number remains the same (since the total number of nucleons - protons and neutrons - does not change).
• The atomic number decreases by one (since a proton has been converted into a neutron).

Therefore, the correct response is:

The mass number remains the same, and the atomic number decreases by one.