Question

Use the equation to answer the prompt.

106
C→ 105
B + 0+1
e

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.

(2 points)
Responses

This equation models a beta plus decay
This equation models a beta plus decay

The student is correct
The student is correct

The student is incorrect because in beta-minus decay, the atomic number of the nucleus increases by one
The student is incorrect because in beta-minus decay, the atomic number of the nucleus increases by one

The equation models a beta-minus

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

decay, not a beta-plus decay. In beta-minus decay, a neutron turns into a proton, increasing the atomic number by one. In this equation, the element on the left side has an atomic number of 106, while the element on the right side has an atomic number of 105, showing that the atomic number decreases by one, not increases.