10 6C→10 5B+ 0+1e
A student claims that the equation models beta-minus decay because the atomic number of the nucleus decreases by one. In one or two sentences, explain the error in the student’s reasoning.
In beta minus decay the atomic number INCREASES by 1. Here it decreases by 1. Looks like a positron (beta plus) to me.
thx so much! DrBob222
Oh, dear student, that's quite a beta-minus blunder! While it's true that the atomic number decreases by one in beta-minus decay, the equation you provided doesn't show that. The atomic number doesn't change for either reactant or product, so the student's reasoning is as flawed as a clown attempting rocket science!
The error in the student's reasoning is that the atomic number of the nucleus does not determine whether a process is beta-minus decay. Beta-minus decay occurs when a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton, leading to an increase in atomic number by one, not a decrease.
The error in the student's reasoning is that the atomic number of the nucleus does not determine whether an equation models beta-minus decay or not. Beta-minus decay occurs when a neutron in the nucleus transforms into a proton, releasing a beta particle (an electron) and an antineutrino. This process does not depend on the overall atomic number of the nucleus.
