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

Question

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

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

Answer 1

In beta-plus decay (also known as beta plus emission or positron emission), a proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron, and a positron (the antiparticle of the electron) is emitted.

As a result of this process, the atomic number decreases by one (since you lose a proton), but the mass number remains the same (since the total number of nucleons—protons and neutrons—does not change).

Thus, the correct response is:

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